Capsule type endoscope

Abstract

A capsule-type endoscope comprising a capsule body, an image pickup element, illuminating elements, an image signal processing circuit, a memory, an image information transmitting circuit and an antenna for wireless transmission. The capsule body contains the pickup element, the illuminating elements, the processing circuit, the memory, transmitting circuit and the antenna. While the capsule body remains in a living body, the image pickup element takes images of an interior of the living body. The processing circuit processes the image, generating image information. The memory stores the information. The transmitting circuit reads the information and supplies it to the antenna. The antenna transmits the information by radio, from the living body.

1 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A method of observing an inside of a living body, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) acquiring an image inside the living body at a predetermined position, the predetermined position being the start point of observation;    (b) changing the position for acquiring an image;    (c) acquiring an image of the living body at the new acquiring position; and    (d) repeating steps b and c,    wherein steps a to d are performed automatically.    
     
     
         44 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein the image acquired at a new position is such that it is continuous with the image acquired prior to this position.  
     
     
         45 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 44 , wherein the direction in which the acquired images are continued is the direction in which the positions for acquiring the images change.  
     
     
         46 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein the images are acquired after changing the speed of acquiring the images.  
     
     
         47 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein a target of acquiring images is a predetermined internal organ, and then the target organ is changed from the predetermined organ to another organ, acquiring images stops.  
     
     
         48 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 47 , wherein the predetermined organ is the esophagus and the other organ is the stomach.  
     
     
         49 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein acquiring images is stopped based on a preset schedule.  
     
     
         50 . The method of observing an inside of a living body, according to  claim 49 , wherein the preset schedule is determined based on at least one of the position for acquiring an image, the time that the image was acquired, and the number of images that have been acquired.  
     
     
         51 . The method of observing an inside of a living body acquiring to  claim 43 , wherein images are stored after being acquired, the image being compressed to JPEG format in storing the images.  
     
     
         52 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein images are stored after being acquired, and the stored images are wirelessly transmitted.  
     
     
         53 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 46 , wherein a subject of acquiring images is a predetermined internal organ, and when the subject organ is changed from the predetermined organ to another organ, the speed of acquiring the images is changed.  
     
     
         54 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 46 , wherein the speed of acquiring the images is changed based on a preset schedule.  
     
     
         55 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 46 , wherein the speed of acquiring the images is changed such that the acquisition speed after change is less than before change.  
     
     
         56 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein the speed of acquiring the images is changed in accordance with the position.  
     
     
         57 . The method of observing an inside of a living body acquiring to  claim 43 , wherein images are acquired at more than 5 frames/second.  
     
     
         58 . The method of observing an inside of a living body acquiring to  claim 52 , wherein the speed of acquiring the images is greater than that of transmitting the images.  
     
     
         59 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 43 , wherein steps a to d are automatically performed in accordance with a predetermined program.  
     
     
         60 . The method of observing an inside of a living body acquired according to  claim 59 , wherein the predetermined program is set before step a.  
     
     
         61 . The method of observing an inside of a living body acquiring a living body according to  claim 59 , wherein the predetermined program is changed after step a.  
     
     
         62 . The method of observing an inside of a living body according to  claim 46 , wherein the speed of acquiring the images is changed to acquire images of a subject organ of the living body.