Power source control for medical capsules
A power source apparatus and a system incorporating said power source for medical capsules are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention allow the medical capsule to enable/disable electrical power supplied to a sub-system in the capsule device without special tools and/or skills after the medical capsule is manufactured. In one embodiment, the power source apparatus comprises a plunger responsive to a magnetic field, a spring to interact with the plunger, a battery and a control piece. The plunger is moved between first and second positions according to a magnetic field applied externally. Accordingly, the control piece enables or disables the power depending on the plunger positions. In another embodiment, a capsule system uses an electrical interconnect with pressure contacts between the power source and the capsule sub-system connecting the second circuit board to the power-output nodes.
1. A capsule camera system, comprising:
a housing having an elongated shape and adapted to be swallowed;
a power source within the housing located at a first end of the housing, the power source comprising:
at least one battery;
a first battery-contact pad contacting a first polarity terminal of said at least one battery;
a first circuit board comprising a second battery-contact pad contacting a second polarity terminal of said at least one battery; and
power-output nodes, wherein all power-output nodes are disposed on the first circuit board on a side facing away from the first end of the housing and the power-output nodes are on a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing;
a capsule sub-system within the housing positioned further from the first end of the housing than the power source, the capsule sub-system comprising:
a light source;
a camera for capturing a digital image of a scene illuminated by the light source;
a memory for storing or a transmitter for transmitting at least a portion of the digital image captured by the camera; and
a second circuit board; and
an electrical interconnect between the power source and the capsule sub-system connecting the second circuit board to the power-output nodes, wherein the electrical interconnect comprises electrical contacts at one or both ends, wherein electrical power is supplied to the capsule sub-system from the power source through the electrical interconnect and the power-output nodes, and wherein at least one of the electrical contacts, either between the electrical interconnect and the power-output nodes or between the electrical interconnect and the second circuit board, is a pressure contact.
2. The capsule camera system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect is flexible.
3. The capsule camera system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect is located along a longitudinal centerline of the housing.
4. The capsule camera system of claim 1 , wherein the power source contains a magnetically actuated switch, wherein one of the first battery-contact pad and the second battery-contact pad is electrically connected to one of the power-output nodes when the magnetically actuated switch is closed.
5. The capsule camera system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring positioned inside the housing to push at least one portion of the capsule sub-system towards the power source.
6. The capsule camera system of claim 5 , wherein a stop mechanism is positioned between the power source and the capsule sub-system to stop movement of the at least one portion of the capsule sub-system towards the power source.
7. The capsule camera system of claim 6 , wherein the stop mechanism is positioned on at least two sides of the electrical interconnect.
8. The capsule camera system of claim 7 , wherein the stop mechanism is a holder for the electrical interconnect.
9. The capsule camera system of claim 7 , wherein the stop mechanism is attached to the second circuit board inside the capsule sub-system.
10. The capsule camera system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is configured to be located within a half of the housing at the first end of the housing.