POWER SOURCE CONTROL FOR MEDICAL CAPSULES

摘要

A power source apparatus and a system incorporating said power source for medical capsules are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention allow the medical capsule to enable/disable electrical power supplied to a sub-system in the capsule device without special tools and/or skills after the medical capsule is manufactured. In one embodiment, the power source apparatus comprises a plunger responsive to a magnetic field, a spring to interact with the plunger, a battery and a control piece. The plunger is moved between first and second positions according to a magnetic field applied externally. Accordingly, the control piece enables or disables the power depending on the plunger positions. In another embodiment, a capsule system uses an electrical interconnect with pressure contacts between the power source and the capsule sub-system connecting the second circuit board to the power-output nodes.

主权项

1. A power source apparatus for medical capsules, comprising:
a plunger responsive to a magnetic field; a spring disposed to interact with the plunger, wherein the plunger is pushed by the spring to a first position when the magnetic field is removed, and the plunger compresses the spring to a second position when the magnetic field is applied; a battery; and a control piece coupled to the battery and the plunger, wherein the control piece comprises power output contacts, and wherein electrical power from the battery is enabled at the power output contacts with the plunger at the first position and the electrical power from the battery is disabled at the power output contacts with the plunger at the second position.