Capsule medical device

Abstract

A capsule casing of a capsule medical device has a chemical sensor inside, used for sensing operation. The chemical sensor has a recovery device which resets the chemical sensor to an initial state thereof so as to use the chemical sensor for the sensing operation a plurality of times or continuously.

1 . A capsule medical device having a chemical sensor used for sensing operation, comprising:
 a capsule casing;   a chemical sensor arranged in the capsule casing; and   a recovery device which recovers the chemical sensor substantially to an initial state thereof so as to use the chemical sensor for sensing operation a plurality of times or continuously, the recovery device being a sensor surface switching device which switches the sensor surface.   
     
     
         2 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor surface switching device has an exposing mechanism which sequentially exposes the different sensor surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an exposure control mechanism which sequentially externally exposes the different sensor surfaces, by relatively moving the chemical sensor to an opening partly arranged to an exterior of the capsule medical device by the exposing mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening is a slit opening with a narrow width formed to a cylindrical surface of the exterior, and the chemical sensor is rotated and is moved in the width direction of the slit relative to the slit opening. 
     
     
         5 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the chemical sensor is arranged so that a plurality of types of sensors are simultaneously exposed in the longitudinal direction of the slit opening. 
     
     
         6 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening is fan-shaped, the inner chemical sensor is disc-shaped, and the disc-shaped chemical sensor is rotated, thereby sequentially externally exposing the different sensor surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the chemical sensor is film-shaped to be wound, the different sensor surfaces are externally sequentially exposed to the opening arranged to the exterior in association with the winding operation of the film-shaped chemical sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein an electric contact for driving the exposing mechanism is arranged, and the electric contact is arranged near the outer surface of a case forming the exterior of the capsule medical device. 
     
     
         9 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor surface switching device is a chemical sensor with a laminating structure of forming the sensor surfaces onto a plurality of layers comprising a substance digested in the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         10 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an optical sensor which varies the focusing distance so as to perform the focusing operation onto the plurality of layers.   
     
     
         11 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of layers are covered with the substances with different thicknesses. 
     
     
         12 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of layers are covered with the substances digested in the different gastrointestinal tracts such as the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. 
     
     
         13 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a marking mechanism which performs the marking operation for specifying the position.   
     
     
         14 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a driving control unit which determines whether or not the marking mechanism should be driven.   
     
     
         15 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 13 , wherein the marking mechanism comprises a discharge or ejecting unit which discharges or ejects polymer which easily adheres to the living body. 
     
     
         16 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 13 , wherein he marking mechanism comprises a discharge or ejecting unit which discharges or ejects an RF-ID tag which sends radio waves. 
     
     
         17 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an illuminating unit which illuminates the inside of the living body; and   an image pick-up unit which picks-up an image of an illuminated portion,   wherein the driving control unit operates the illuminating unit and the image pick-up unit in association with the marking mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an illuminating unit which illuminates the inside of the living body;   an image pick-up unit which picks-up an image of an illuminated portion; and   an image pick-up control unit which controls the illuminating unit, the image pick-up unit, and the chemical sensor in association therewith.   
     
     
         19 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a switching control unit which controls the switching timing or switching speed of the sensor surface switching device,   wherein the switching control unit and the image pick-up control unit are associated therewith.   
     
     
         20 . A capsule medical device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switching control unit which controls the switching timing or switching speed of the sensor surface switching device.   
     
     
         21 . A capsule medical system comprising a capsule medical device having a chemical sensor and an analyzing device which analyzes or detects sensing data sensed by the chemical sensor after collecting the capsule medical device having sensor operation performed,
 wherein the capsule medical device comprises a driving unit which sequentially exposes different sensor surfaces, and the analyzing device drives the driving unit and analyzes or detects the sensing data held in the chemical sensor.