Medical device including self-propelled capsule endoscope

摘要

A medical device includes a capsule endoscope in which a magnet having a magnetization direction in an axial direction is mounted and a fin portion is provided at a rear end of an endoscope main body, and which can be self-propelled through the inside of a body; and a capsule controller which controls self-propulsion of the capsule endoscope from the outside of the body by generating a static magnetic field whose direction is controlled three-dimensionally, and an alternating magnetic field orthogonal to the static magnetic field. The capsule endoscope rotates upon receiving the static magnetic field so that the magnetization direction of the magnet is parallel to the direction of the static magnetic field and the fin portion vibrates by bending with movement of the magnet in response to the alternating magnetic field.

主权项

1. A medical device comprising:
a capsule endoscope in which a fin portion mounting a magnet having a magnetization direction in an axial direction is provided at a rear end in the axial direction of an endoscope main body, and which can be self-propelled through the inside of a body; and a capsule controller that controls self-propulsion of the capsule endoscope from the outside of the body by generating a static magnetic field whose direction is controlled three-dimensionally and an alternating magnetic field orthogonal to the static magnetic field, wherein the capsule endoscope is configured such that the capsule endoscope rotates upon receiving the static magnetic field so that the magnetization direction of the magnet is parallel to the direction of the static magnetic field and aligned in a direction identical to a target moving direction and the fin portion vibrates by bending with movement of the magnet in response to the alternating magnetic field being generated simultaneously with and combined with the static magnetic field, whereby propulsive power in the axial direction is generated.