Capsule-type medical device and medical system

Abstract

A capsule-type medical device which is advanced through a digestive tract of a human being or animal for conducting an examination, therapy, or treatment is provided. The capsule-type medical device includes: a plurality of capsule bodies; a soft linking unit which links the plurality of capsule bodies and has an outer diameter less than that of any of the capsule bodies; and a joining member which joins two or more of the plurality of capsule bodies in a prescribed position.

1 . A method of obtaining an image of a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising: 
 obtaining an image in the subject using a swallowable capsule type medical device having at least an imaging device and a controller for controlling the imaging device;    introducing the capsule type medical device into the subject;    controlling the imaging device to capture images at a first image capture rate during a first time period;    controlling the imaging device to capture images at a second image capture rate different from the first image capture rate after the first time period.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein controlling the imaging device to capture images at the second image capture rate includes capturing images at the second image capture rate for a second time period.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second image capture rate has a higher image capture rate per second than the first image capture rate.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising changing a setting which is associated with the operation of the imaging device before swallowing the capsule type medical device.  
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling a capsule type medical device, the method comprising: 
 introducing the capsule type medical device into a subject; and    changing a setting contained in a memory of the capsule type medical device, the setting being associated with an operation of a medical action performed by the capsule type medical device.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the changing is performed prior to the introducing.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the changing is performed after the introducing.  
     
     
         8 . A capsule type medical device, comprising: 
 a swallowable housing:    a device disposed within the housing for carrying out a medical action;    a controller disposed within the housing which controls an operation of the device;    a memory which stores a setting associated with the operation, the memory being disposed within the housing; and    a setting device operatively communicated with the memory and capable of changing the setting, the setting device communicating with the memory to provide an instruction of changing the setting to the memory.    
     
     
         9 . The capsule type medical device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device includes an imaging device for capturing images of a subject, the memory stores the setting associated with the operation of the imaging device, and the setting device is adapted to provide the instruction of changing an operation schedule of the imaging device.  
     
     
         10 . The capsule type medical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the setting device is adapted to provide the instruction of changing an image capture rate of the imaging device.