APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF A HUMAN BODY

摘要

System and method to provide a suspended capsule endoscope at a liquid gas interface is described. The capsule comprises a permanent magnetic dipole and has a density greater than the density of the liquid. An sphere-shaped external magnet is used to suspend and control the movement of the capsule endoscope at the liquid/gas interface. The capsule endoscope can translate along variable axes, rotate and tilt, according to the movement of the external magnet. The external magnet performs a translation and rotation simultaneously to keep the capsule endoscope still and anchored at the same position of the liquid/gas interface. The external magnet adjusts its distance to the liquid/gas interface during the rotation in order to apply a constant magnetic field force to the capsule endoscope.