Capsule-type medical apparatus and a communication method for the capsule-type medical apparatus

Abstract

When a capsule is manufactured, a unique number such as a serial number is stored in non-volatile memory in the capsule. If the capsule is used with an external apparatus, the unique number is sent from the capsule to the external apparatus. The external apparatus relates each unique number with a capsule ID comprising a small number of bits in a management table formed in non-volatile memory and sends the capsule ID to the capsule, and the capsule ID with the small number of bits is set as an identifier in the capsule. In this manner, it is made unnecessary to provide a switch in the capsule for setting the identifier and it becomes possible to reduce and send the quantity of information sent as the identifier.

1 . A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising a capsule body for performing medical procedures such as medical examination and observation inside a living body, and an external apparatus;
 wherein, the capsule body comprises:   image-capturing means;   first wireless means for receiving command codes and sending image data captured by said image-capturing means;   decoding means for converting command codes received through said first wireless means back into commands; and   control means for controlling the image-capturing means and the first wireless means according to said commands; and   wherein, the external apparatus comprises:   encoding means for converting commands into command codes; and   second wireless means for sending command codes to the capsule body and receiving image data from the capsule body.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule-type medical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises operation sequence setting means that is able to vary the operating time and the timing of said image-capturing means and said first wireless means. 
     
     
         3 . A capsule-type medical apparatus comprising a capsule body for performing medical procedures such as medical examination and observation inside a living body, and an external apparatus;
 wherein, the capsule body comprises:   image-capturing means;   first wireless means for receiving command codes and sending image data captured by said image-capturing means;   decoding means for converting command codes received through said first wireless means back into commands; and   operation sequence setting means that is able to vary the operating time and the timing of said image-capturing means and said first wireless means according to said commands; and   wherein, the external apparatus comprises:   encoding means for converting commands into command codes; and   second wireless means for sending command codes to the capsule body and receiving image data from the capsule body;   mode setting means for setting the operating modes; and   selecting means for selecting a command to be used from a plurality of commands, according to the set operating mode.