WIRELESS CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless capsule endoscope and a power supply control method thereof. The method includes controlling the power supply of the capsule endoscope wirelessly and automatically adjusting power consumption of the power supply in the capsule endoscope. The wireless capsule endoscope includes a capsule casing, a light generator arranged at outside of the capsule casing, an opto-electronic switching starter arranged in the capsule casing, a power supply, a control module, a posture sensor, an illumination unit, an image processing device and a radio frequency transmission unit. The power supply being driven by the light generator in the present invention can effectively solve the incompatible problem between a traditional magnetic switch and a magnetic control device. Meanwhile, the control module and the posture detector enable the power supply to be in different working status under different states, which can prolong the service life of the power supply of the capsule endoscope.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a wireless capsule endoscope and power supply control method thereof, and more particularly to a wireless capsule endoscope which can efficiently and flexibly photograph the interior of a digestive tract and power supply control method thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

As an effective medical device for diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases, capsule endoscope is recognized in the international medical field and boomingly develops. The capsule endoscope includes a capsule casing, a camera and an illumination unit composed of LED and a wireless communication unit etc installed in the capsule casing. The capsule endoscope can capture images of the interior of a stomach or intestine via swallowed by a subject, and transmit the images to an external image display device by the wireless communication unit. Then the doctor can diagnose gastrointestinal diseases according to the image information.

In order to use the capsule endoscope more efficiently and flexibly in a controlled fashion, many foreign researchers have designed a kind of capsule endoscope driven initiatively to replace the traditional capsule endoscope driven by peristalsis of the digestive tract. PCT patent publication No. 01/35813 discloses a capsule endoscope, which is controlled by driving the constituent components thereof The capsule endoscope has a reed switch provided inside the capsule casing thereof. Said reed switch keeps off in a certain given magnetic field and is on when the intensity of the magnetic field is declined. Therefore the power supply of the constituent components in the capsule endoscope can be controlled by the magnetic field. But under this model, the other magnetic components installed in the capsule casing would be interfered. Meanwhile, it takes some time that the capsule endoscope is taken out from a package and swallowed by the subject and the constituent components are started in said some time that will waste much electrical power of the power supply. Because the electrical power of the power supply is limited, the waste of the electrical power will influence the diagnosis. Besides, because of the influence of the magnetic field, it is difficult to solve the waste problem of the electrical power for the capsule endoscope with many magnetic components.

RFID switch, which can drive the internal power supply by external start command can solve the above problems. But the RFID switch needs a big receiving antenna to cooperate, which is difficult to accomplish for the capsule endoscope with limited internal space.

It is desirable to provide an improved wireless capsule endoscope and power supply control method thereof to solve above problems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure includes a wireless capsule endoscope comprising an illumination unit, an image processing unit; a radio frequency transmission unit and a power supply; wherein further comprises an opto-electronic switching starter, a control module, a posture sensor and an external light generator, the opto-electronic switching starter and the illumination unit being mounted on an annual illumination circuit board with through holes, the power supply being arranged between the image processing unit and the radio frequency transmission unit, and the control module and the posture sensor being disposed between the power supply and the radio frequency transmission unit.

Further, the power supply is composed of silver oxide batteries and a power control board.

Further, the control module performs to process information, and has a circuit module having chip resistors and chip capacitors for controlling voltage.

Further, the posture sensor is a gravity sensor.

Further, the light generator is composed of photodiodes.

In another aspect, the present disclosure includes a power supply control method of a wireless capsule endoscope, comprising: externally and wirelessly controlling the power supply of the capsule endoscope and automatically adjusting power consumption of the power supply in the capsule endoscope; and wherein when the power supply is needed to be turned on, an external light generator generates certain intensity light beam which shining on an opto-electronic switching starter provided at interior of the capsule endoscope, and the opto-electronic switching starter convents the light signals to electrical signals to generate an opening pulse which make the power supply contact with the other constitution components of the capsule endoscope, then the constitution components of the capsule endoscope being in low power status; when the capsule endoscope with the power supply turned on is located in a body cavity, according to the posture information detected by a posture sensor, a control module provided at interior of the capsule endoscope adjusts the power supply to keep on the low power status in an invalid state and output electrical power in a valid state.

Further, the wavelengths of the light beam is 780 nm to 880 nm.

Further, the low power status means that the capsule endoscope does not photograph and transmit image information, and the valid state means that the position of the capsule endoscope is changing and the images picked up is unduplicated, and the invalid state means that the capsule endoscope is not located at afflicted part of the body cavity or has been completed to photograph and transmit image information.

The wireless capsule endoscope and power supply control method thereof in the present invention solves the incompatible problem of the traditional capsule endoscope with magnetic switch and a magnetic driven device, and is driven via turning on an internal opto-electronic switching starter by an external light generator. When the capsule endoscope is located in a body cavity, the power supply and the control module can adjust the working status of constituent components of the capsule endoscope, which can prolong the service life of the power supply and further improves the inflexibility and efficiency of the capsule endoscope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the described embodiments. In the drawings, reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a capsule endoscope of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the capsule endoscope;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for showing that the power supply of the capsule endoscope is controlled by an external light generator;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for showing working status of the power supply in different states;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the power supply control method of the capsule endoscope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail. In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements in different drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the configuration of a wireless capsule endoscope of the present invention is described firstly. The wireless capsule endoscope includes a capsule casing 1, an illumination unit 2 used for illuminating the interior of the digestive tract of a subject, an image processing unit 3 for picking up images of a region illuminated by the illumination unit 2 and processing the image information, a radio frequency transmission unit 7 transmitting the image information to outside wirelessly, magnetic dipole 5, a posture sensor 6b, a power supply 4 supplying electrical power to above constituent components of the capsule endoscope, a control module 6 controlling working status of above constituent components, and an external light generator 8. The capsule casing 1 is composed of a capsule-shaped body 1b and a hemispherical optical cover 1a. The optical cover 1a is transparent and performs with high light transmission. The illumination unit 2 is arranged close to the optical cover 1a for efficiently illuminating the interior of the digestive tract. The image processing unit 3 has an optical lens 3a. The posture sensor 6b is a gravity sensor. The radio frequency transmission unit 7 includes a radio frequency circuit board 7a and an antenna 7b.

Combined with the configuration, the working principle of the capsule endoscope is described in this paragraph. The light generator 8 can generate certain intensity light beam in a controlled fashion. The illumination unit 2 has an illumination circuit board 2c, a number of illumination components 2a installed on the illumination circuit board 2c. The illumination components 2a are LED. The capsule endoscope further includes an opto-electronic switching starter 2b installed on the illumination circuit board 2c. The opto-electronic switching starter 2b is formed with a FET (Field Effect Transistor) 9b and an electronic switch 9a connected with the FET 9b. When the light beam generated by the light generator 8 passes through the optical cover 1a to shine on the opto-electronic switching starter 2b, the electronic switch 9a will be turned on, that is, the opto-electronic switching starter 2b converts light signals to electrical signals for generating an opening pulse 2e which make the power supply connect with the constituent components of the capsule endoscope, such as illumination unit 2, image processing unit 3, power supply 4, radio frequency transmission unit 7 and magnetic dipole 5.

In order to distinguish spectral bands between the illumination components 2a of illumination unit 2, the light generator 8 and opto-electronic switching starter 2b, the light generator 8 and the opto-electronic switching starter 2b in the present invention are composed of photodiodes device which have wavelengths between 780 nm to 880 nm for realizing the convention between the light signals and electrical signals, which can avoid the confliction between the light used to illuminate a viewing region of the optical lens 3a and the light generator 8 and the opto-electronic switching starter 2b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, like the illumination unit 2, in order to receive certain light beam from the external light generator 8, the opto-electronic switching starter 2b is arranged at a position which has high light transmission in optical characteristic, thereby the position is arranged on the illumination circuit board 2c which is arranged close to the optical cover 1a in the embodiment. The illumination circuit board 2c is annular for disposing the image processing unit 3 at the middle position thereof. The annular illumination circuit board 2c defines a plurality of through holes, the opto-electronic switching starter 2b and the illumination components 2a are mounted in the through holes around the image processing unit 3.

The starting control process of the constituent components of the capsule endoscope is accomplished after the electronic switch 9a of the opto-electronic switching starter 2b is turned on, and the power control is accomplished by the power supply 4. The power supply 4 is located between the image processing unit 3 and the magnetic dipole 5, and includes a power control board 4b and one or plural batteries 4a with required power mounted on the power control board 4b. The power control board 4b electrically connects with other constituent components of the capsule endoscope for supplying electrical power to them. The batteries 4a are two button-type silver oxide batteries in the embodiment.

The power supply 4 enables the capsule endoscope to pick up images of the digestive tract and transmit data in a valid state, and let the other constituent components of the capsule endoscope keep on a low power status in an invalid state. The low power status means that the capsule endoscope does not photograph and transmit the image information. The valid state means that the position of the capsule endoscope is changing and the images picked up is unduplicated, and the invalid state means that the capsule endoscope is not located at an afflicted region of the body cavity or has been completed to photograph and transmit the image information.

The control module 6 performs to process information, and includes a calibration unit 6d for analyzing and calibrating the characteristic of the posture sensor 6b, a data processing unit 6c and a feedback unit 6e. When the power supply 4 receives an opening pulse generated by the electronic switch 9a of the opto-electronic switching starter 2b, the power supply 4 contacts with the other constituent components to supply electrical power by the batteries 4a thereof. Then the calibration unit 6d analyzes the characteristic of the posture sensor 6b, and the data processing unit 6c processes the information in real time. When the capsule endoscope is analyzed in the invalid state, such as in the mouth, the feedback unit 6e informs the power supply 4 to work in the low power status, which can efficiently reduce the power consumption. When the capsule endoscope is analyzed in the valid state, the power supply 4 is informed to supply electrical power normally. As detail illustrated in FIG. 4, the square signal is continued clock signal, and in the coordinate, “I” means signal level. When the I is 1, the power supply 4 supplies electrical power, and when the I is 0, the power supply 4 does not supply the electrical power. The duration of the low power consumption and the valid state is computed by location arithmetic. Therefore, in a premise which the normal photograph and disease checking is not influenced, the power supply 4 can supply electrical power while the other constituent components of the capsule endoscope need to be drove, and does not supply the electrical power while the other constituent components do not need to be drove. The capsule endoscope can be assured to run stably and efficiently, and the power of the batteries 4a can be saved and prolongs service life thereof. The control module 6 further includes a circuit module having chip resistors and chip capacitors for controlling the voltage.

As described above, by using the opto-electronic switching starter 2b, the capsule endoscope of the present invention solves the incompatible problem of the traditional magnetic switch and a magnetic drive device. Besides, the combination of the opto-electronic switching starter 2b, the power supply 4, the control module 6 and the posture sensor 6b enable the capsule endoscope to move more flexibly and be smaller, and the service life of the batteries 4a is prolonged, all of which can improve the performance of the capsule endoscope.

Turning on the power supply initiatively in exterior can be realized by the wireless capsule endoscope and the power control method thereof in the present invention, which is suitable for the capsule endoscope with magnetic components and can improve the performance of the capsule endoscope. Meanwhile, the posture sensor 6b and the control module 6 enable the power supply to be in different working status under different states, which can prolong the service life of the capsule endoscope with limited electrical power and limited inner space. Thereby the capsule endoscope is very practical.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail within the principles of present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broadest general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A wireless capsule endoscope comprising an illumination unit, an image processing unit; a radio frequency transmission unit and a power supply; wherein the wireless capsule endoscope further comprises an opto-electronic switching starter, a control module, a posture sensor and an external light generator, the opto-electronic switching starter and the illumination unit being mounted on an annual illumination circuit board with through holes, the power supply being arranged between the image processing unit and the radio frequency transmission unit, and the control module and the posture sensor being disposed between the power supply and the radio frequency transmission unit.

2. The wireless capsule endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply is composed of silver oxide batteries and a power control board.

3. The wireless capsule endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control module performs to process information, and has a circuit module having chip resistors and chip capacitors for controlling voltage.

4. The wireless capsule endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the posture sensor is a gravity sensor.

5. The wireless capsule endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light generator is consisting of at least one photodiode.

6. A power supply control method of a wireless capsule endoscope comprising: externally and wirelessly controlling the power supply of the capsule endoscope and automatically adjusting power consumption of the power supply in the capsule endoscope; and wherein when the power supply is needed to be turned on, an external light generator generates certain intensity light beam which shining on an opto-electronic switching starter provided at interior of the capsule endoscope, and the opto-electronic switching starter converts the light signals to electrical signals to generate an opening pulse which make the power supply contact with the other constitution components of the capsule endoscope, then the constituent components of the capsule endoscope being in low power status;when the capsule endoscope with the power supply turned on is located in a body cavity, according to the posture information detected by a posture sensor, a control module provided at interior of the capsule endoscope adjusts the power supply to keep on the low power status in an invalid state and output electrical power in a valid state.

7. The power supply control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wavelength of the light beam is 780 nm to 880 nm.

8. The power supply control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the low power status means that the capsule endoscope does not photograph and transmit image information, and the valid state means that the position of the capsule endoscope is changing and the images picked up is unduplicated, and the invalid state means that the capsule endoscope is not located at an afflicted part of the body cavity or has been completed to photograph and transmit image information.