Capsular endoscope

Abstract

According to the present invention, a capsular endoscope having at least an image pickup optical system, an illumination unit, an image pickup portion, and a circuit board comprises a marker shooting unit that indwells a marker member in a body cavity. Consequently, a predetermined marker is indwelled in a desired region such as a lesion discovered using the capsular endoscope so that the region can be readily rediscovered during reexamination.

1 . A capsular endoscope having at least an image pickup optical system, an illuminating device, an image pickup device, and a circuit board, comprising: 
 a shooting unit for shooting a desired member in a body cavity, wherein the shooting unit includes an urging member for constraining, in the capsular endoscope, a shooting force with which to shoot the desired member, while urging the shooting force to the desired member.    
     
     
         2 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired member is liquid.  
     
     
         3 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 2 , wherein the urging member is a pressurizing member for pressurizing the liquid desired member in advance.  
     
     
         4 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein a reservoir unit filled with the liquid desired member is attachable to and detachable from a capsule main body.  
     
     
         5 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 2 , wherein a distal part of a nozzle for ejecting the desired member is within an observation field of view.  
     
     
         6 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 2 , wherein the liquid desired member is a medicine.  
     
     
         7 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired member is a metallic member.  
     
     
         8 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 7 , wherein the desired member as the metallic member is a marker member.  
     
     
         9 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired member is a marker member.  
     
     
         10 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 9 , wherein the marker member is a fluorescent substance.  
     
     
         11 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 9 , wherein member is a substance opaque to X-rays.  
     
     
         12 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 9 , wherein member is a colorant.  
     
     
         13 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 9 , wherein member is a clip.  
     
     
         14 . The capsular endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein member is a medicine.  
     
     
         15 . A method for performing a treatment in a living body, comprising the steps of: 
 applying a shooting force in a capsule;    filling a shooting member in the capsule;    introducing the capsule into the organic body;    releasing the shooting force at a desired region: and    shooting the member at the desired location.    
     
     
         16 . The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of shooting the member is a step of shooting a marker member.  
     
     
         17 . The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of shooting the member is a step of shooting a medicine.  
     
     
         18 . The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of observing inside of the organic body by the capsule.  
     
     
         19 . The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of detecting a three dimensional posture of the capsule in the organic body.  
     
     
         20 . The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of filling a shooting member in the capsule is a step of selecting a reservoir unit filled with the shooting member and attaching the reservoir unit to the capsule.