In-body imaging device and support tube for in-body imaging device

Abstract

An in-body imaging device includes a camera support tube, one end of which is able to be introduced into a body; a camera joined to the camera support tube inside the body; a support tube joining portion that joins the camera and the camera support tube; a camera-side cable connected to the camera and led out to an outside of the body through the camera support tube; and a controller outside the body, connected to the camera-side cable, and including at least a display.

1 . An in-body imaging device, comprising:
 a support tube, one end of which is able to be introduced into a body;   an imaging portion to be joined to the support tube inside the body;   a joining portion to join the imaging portion and the support tube; and   a first cable connected to the imaging portion and able to be led out to an outside of the body through the support tube;   wherein the joining portion is a recess-shaped joining portion in the imaging portion; and   the support tube is joined to the imaging portion by being inserted into the recess-shaped joining portion.   
     
     
         2 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein a pull out portion from which the first cable is pulled out is provided inside of the joining portion, and the first cable is adhesively fixed to the inside of the joining portion at the pull out portion. 
     
     
         3 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the joining portion and a portion of the support tube includes an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the joining portion has a recess shape corresponding to the one end of the support tube, and a protrusion or a recess to mechanically fix the end of the support tube is provided in an inner wall of the joining portion. 
     
     
         5 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion is a locking pawl. 
     
     
         6 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein a joining strength of the support tube and the joining portion is less than a connection strength of the imaging portion and the first cable. 
     
     
         7 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 6 , wherein the joining strength is in a range of 3 N to 6 N. 
     
     
         8 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second cable connected to the first cable, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the second cable; and
 a fitting strength of the first and the second connectors is less than a connection strength of the imaging portion and the first cable.   
     
     
         9 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 8 , wherein the fitting strength is in a range of 4 N to 10 N. 
     
     
         10 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cable connected to the first cable, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the second cable; and   an outer diameter of the first connector is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the second connector.   
     
     
         11 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cable connected to the first cable, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the second cable;   the second cable has a clean portion to maintain cleanliness and has a predetermined length from a position at which the first connector and the second connector are fit; and   a length of the first cable is one half of or less than a sum of the length of the first cable and a length of the clean portion.   
     
     
         12 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the support tube at the one end is larger than an outer diameter of the support tube at another end that is to be fit to the joining portion. 
     
     
         13 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cable connected to the first cable, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the second cable; and   a portion or an entirety of at least one surface of the imaging portion, the first cable, and the first connector is blue or green.   
     
     
         14 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cable connected to the first cable, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the second cable; and   an outer diameter of the first cable is less than an outer diameter of the different cable.   
     
     
         15 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cable connected to the first cable; and   a third cable connected to the second cable.   
     
     
         16 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 15 , wherein an outer diameter of the second cable is larger than an outer diameter of the first cable and smaller than an outer diameter of the third cable. 
     
     
         17 . The in-body imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tubular structure capable of being inserted into a body wall; and   a holding tube to hold the support tube which is inserted into an inside thereof.   
     
     
         18 . A support tube of the in-body imaging device according to  claim 4 , comprising a recess or a protrusion corresponding to a shape of the protrusion or the recess provided in the inner wall of the joining portion. 
     
     
         19 . The support tube according to  claim 18 , wherein the support tube has to uniform inner diameter and an outer diameter that decreases from a portion joined to the joining portion to a tip end thereof. 
     
     
         20 . An in-body imaging device, comprising:
 a support tube, one end of which is able to be introduced into a body;   an imaging portion to be joined to the support tube inside the body;   a joining portion to join the imaging portion and the support tube; and   a first cable connected to the imaging portion and able to be led out to an outside of the body through the support tube; wherein   the joining portion has a recess shape corresponding to the one end of the support tube, and a protrusion or a recess to mechanically fix the end of the support tube is provided in an inner wall of the joining portion; and   the protrusion is a locking pawl.