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 images in a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising: 
 introducing the capsule type medical device having a first imaging device and a second imaging device into the subject;    obtaining a first image with a first angle of view using the first imaging device;    obtaining a second image with a second angle of view having a broader angle of view than the first angle of view using the second imaging device;    transmitting the first image to outside of the subject by a wireless signal; and    transmitting the second image to outside of the subject by the wireless signal.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first image using the first imaging device includes obtaining the first image in a first direction; and obtaining the second image using the second imaging device includes obtaining the second image in a second direction.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein obtaining the second image includes obtaining the second image in the second direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction.  
     
     
         4 . A capsule type medical device, comprising: 
 a first imaging device for obtaining a first image, the first imaging device having a first angle of view; and    a second imaging device for obtaining a second image, the second imaging device having a second angle of view which is broader than the first angle of view.    
     
     
         5 . The capsule type medical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first imaging device is arranged so as to obtain the first image in a first direction, and the second imaging device is arranged so as to obtain the second image in a second direction.  
     
     
         6 . The capsule type medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second imaging devices are arranged so as to be directed toward opposite directions with respect to each other.  
     
     
         7 . A method of obtaining images in a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising: 
 introducing the capsule type medical device having a first imaging device with a first imaging characteristic and a second imaging device with a second imaging characteristic different from the first imaging characteristic into the subject;    obtaining a first image using the first imaging device having the first imaging characteristic;    obtaining a second image using the second imaging device having the second imaging characteristic;    transmitting the first image to outside of the subject by a wireless signal; and    transmitting the second image to outside of the subject by the wireless signal.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first imaging characteristic is a first field of view and the second imaging characteristic is a second field of view having a larger field of view than the first field of view.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first imaging characteristic is a first viewing direction and the second imaging characteristic is a second viewing direction having a different angle of view relative to a longitudinal axis of the capsule type medical device than the first viewing direction.