JP4875315B2 - Intra-subject introduction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-subject introduction apparatus that includes a function execution means for executing a predetermined function and includes a distal end portion that is introduced into the subject via the oral cavity during use.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, swallowable capsule endoscopes have been proposed. This capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging function and a wireless communication function. The capsule endoscope is swallowed from the mouth of the subject for observation (examination) until it is spontaneously discharged until it is spontaneously discharged. It has a function of moving and taking images of the in-subject image at intervals of 0.5 seconds, for example.

  While moving inside the body cavity, image data captured inside the body by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by wireless communication and stored in a memory provided outside. By carrying a receiver having a wireless communication function and a memory function, the subject can freely act after swallowing the capsule endoscope and before being discharged. After the capsule endoscope is ejected, the doctor or nurse can make a diagnosis by displaying an organ image on the display based on the image data stored in the memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)

  By the way, the thing which attached the string-like member for a pull to the exterior part of a capsule type endoscope is proposed. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a capsule endoscope provided with such a string-like member. Specifically, the capsule endoscope shown in FIG. 12 includes a capsule 101 incorporating an imaging mechanism, a string-like member 102 having one end fixed to the capsule 101, and the other end of the string-like member 102. It is comprised by the connected holding part 103. FIG.

  The string-like member 102 is for pulling the capsule 101 introduced into the subject from the outside. Specifically, for example, when imaging an in-subject image in the esophagus, it is difficult to perform a sufficient imaging operation because a general capsule endoscope moves at high speed in the esophagus. There is a problem. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the position of the capsule 101 in the subject or the position of the capsule 101 can be obtained by connecting one end of the string-like member 102 to the capsule 101 and pulling the grip portion 103 connected to the other end. It is possible to adjust the moving speed. By adopting such a configuration, even in an area such as the esophagus, the moving speed of the capsule endoscope can be reduced to capture a large number of in-subject images, and the subject can be re-examined with respect to the already passed area. An internal image can be taken.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-19111

  However, the above-described conventional capsule endoscope has the problem that the burden on the patient (subject) is heavy when swallowed or when the position of the capsule 101 is adjusted because the string-like member 102 is provided. Hereinafter, this problem will be described in detail.

  From the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the subject at the time of introduction, the string-like member 102 is preferably formed in a thin thread shape. That is, since the conventional capsule endoscope 100 is configured to be introduced into the subject via the oral cavity, from the viewpoint of reducing the feeling of foreign matter given to the subject when passing through the oral cavity and making it easier to drink. It is necessary to form the string-like member 102 in a thread shape.

  On the other hand, when position adjustment is performed, it is not preferable that the string-like member 102 is formed in a thread shape. That is, when the position of the capsule 101 is adjusted using the string-like member 102, the end portion of the string-like member 102 located outside the subject (the end opposite to the side connected to the capsule 101) is used. The position adjustment is performed by the person pulling or the like, and the string-like member 102 is tensioned. And, as is clear in view of the structure of the digestive organs of the human body, since the path from the oral cavity where the capsule endoscope is introduced to the esophagus has a structure that is curved at a substantially right angle, the capsule 101 is esophagus, When it is introduced to the stomach or the like, the string-like member 102 comes into contact with the body tissue of the subject (for example, the epiglottis) in the vicinity of the curved structure. When the string-like member 102 having a predetermined tension comes into contact with the body tissue in the vicinity of the curved structure, a pressing force is applied from the string-like member 102 to the body tissue. The subject will feel a strong sense of incongruity, and the burden on the subject associated with the use of the capsule endoscope will increase.

  In particular, when the capsule 101 is taken out of the subject through the oral cavity after the examination using the capsule endoscope, the burden on the subject becomes more conspicuous. As described above, one end of the string-like member 102 is connected to the capsule 101 and the position is adjusted by pulling the other end outside the subject. It will be performed by the same operation. Therefore, the subject continues to receive a pressing force in the body tissue such as the epiglottis for a predetermined time until the capsule 101 is taken out of the subject again, and it is necessary to endure a strong sense of incongruity for a long time. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a capsule endoscope or the like in which a position adjustment member such as a string-like member is provided with respect to a capsule incorporating a predetermined function execution unit such as an imaging mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide an intra-subject introduction device that reduces the burden on the subject when introducing a capsule into the subject and adjusting the position after introduction.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the present invention has a function execution means for executing a predetermined function, and uses the subject via the oral cavity at the time of use. An intra-subject introduction apparatus provided with a tip portion to be introduced therein, which is partially connected to the tip portion, has flexibility, and extends by a predetermined length in a direction away from the tip portion. A stretching member formed so that a width of a contact surface with respect to the body tissue is larger than a width in a normal direction of the contact surface at least in a portion of the subject in contact with the body tissue of the pharynx. Features.

According to the present invention, the stretch member is provided with the stretch member whose width of the contact surface is larger than the width in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface at the portion of the pharynx that is in contact with the body tissue during use. Is in contact with the body tissue of the pharynx at the surface having the largest area, and the pressing force per unit area against the body tissue can be reduced.

In the in-vivo introduction device according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the extending member has a value in which the width in the first direction in the cross section is larger than the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The bending resistance in the second direction is smaller than the bending resistance in the first direction.

The in-subject introduction device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the extending member is formed of a band-shaped member.

In the in-subject introduction device according to the present invention , in the above invention, the distal end portion has an insertion hole in a connection portion with the extension member, and the extension member is partially inserted into the insertion hole. In this state, the capsule is connected.

The in-subject introduction device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the extending member is connected to the distal end portion while maintaining continuity with the outer surface of the distal end portion. .

In the in-vivo introduction device according to the present invention , in the above-described invention, the extending member has a width in the first direction due to a normal force received from the body tissue when contacting the body tissue. The cross-sectional shape is changed so as to have a value larger than the width in the direction.

  The in-subject introduction apparatus according to the present invention includes an extending member in which the width of the contact surface is larger than the width in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface at the portion of the pharynx that is in contact with the body tissue during use. Therefore, the extending member comes into contact with the body tissue of the pharynx at the surface having the largest area, and the pressing force per unit contact area with the body tissue can be reduced, and the pressing force is reduced. By doing so, the sense of incongruity felt by the subject can be reduced or eliminated.

  Hereinafter, an in-subject introduction apparatus which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “embodiment”) will be described. Note that the drawings are schematic, and it should be noted that the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the thickness of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. Of course, the part from which the relationship and ratio of a mutual dimension differ is contained.

(Embodiment 1)
First, the in-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the intra-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a function execution unit 2, and functions as an example of a distal end portion in the scope of claims. A stretching member 3 that is partially connected and stretched by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the capsule 1 is provided.

  The capsule 1 has a structure in which a function execution unit 2 is built in a casing having a predetermined shape. Specifically, the function execution unit 2 is arranged in an outer case formed of a material such as plastic, and the function execution unit 2 includes, for example, a predetermined objective optical system and an imaging element such as a CCD, so that the inside of the subject is And the like. The function executed by the function execution unit 2 need not be interpreted as being limited to the imaging function.

  The extending member 3 is connected to the capsule 1 in part, and has a length that allows another part to remain outside the subject when the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject. This is for adjusting the position of the capsule 1 by pulling the portion of the capsule 1 while holding it. From the viewpoint of enabling such position adjustment, the extending member 3 has a structure extended by a predetermined length and is formed by a member having flexibility so as to bend in accordance with a path in the subject through which the capsule 1 passes. Is done.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional shape of the extending member 3. As shown also in FIG. 1, the extending | stretching member 3 has a strip | belt-shaped structure, and specifically has a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. That is, the extending member 3 has a substantially rectangular cross section, and the width d ₁ in the first direction (lateral direction in FIG. 2) is the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) perpendicular to the first direction. It has a shape having a value larger than the width d ₂ . In addition, if the magnitude relationship between the width in the first direction and the width in the second direction satisfies the above-described conditions, it can function as the extending member 3 in the first embodiment, but the width in the second direction is In addition, it is preferable to have a small value (d ₁ >> d ₂ ) that is negligible compared to the width in the first direction. From this viewpoint, the extending member 3 of the first embodiment is formed by a band-shaped member as a more preferable structure.

  In the first embodiment, the extending member 3 is formed to have anisotropy with respect to a resistance force (hereinafter simply referred to as “bending resistance”) against a bending stress applied from the outside. Specifically, the extending member 3 is formed such that the bending resistance in the first direction is greater than the bending resistance in the second direction. That is, the extending member 3 is easily bent when a bending stress is applied from the outside in the second direction, whereas when the bending stress is applied from the outside in the first direction, the extending member 3 is more than the case of the second direction. Has a structure that is difficult to bend. In the case of a member formed uniformly from a single material, generally, the magnitude of bending resistance increases as the width (thickness) in the direction in which bending stress is applied increases. However, the anisotropy of the bending resistance is easily realized by realizing the structure shown in FIG.

  Next, a usage mode of the intra-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment will be described. In the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment, a function execution unit 2 that executes a predetermined function such as imaging is built in the capsule 1, and the stretching member 3 is pulled when used. As a result, the capsule 1 is moved to a desired position in the subject, and an in-subject image of a desired portion is acquired.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the intra-subject introduction apparatus in a state where the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject. When the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject 13, the extending member 3 connected to the capsule 1 is extended in the direction away from the capsule 1, that is, in the direction toward the oral cavity. In general, execution of a predetermined function using the function execution unit 2 incorporated in the capsule 1 is performed in the esophagus, stomach, etc., so that a part is connected to the capsule 1 and the other part is outside the subject 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the extending member 3 left in is almost always used in the state of passing through the pharynx on the way. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the extending direction of the digestive tract, which is the path through which the capsule 1 passes, inside the subject 13 has a structure that is curved substantially perpendicularly at the pharynx. Used in a curved state according to the shape of the gastrointestinal tract in the vicinity. In the state where the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject as shown in FIG. 3, the extending member 3 is a surface normal to the second direction with respect to the body tissue of the pharynx, that is, perpendicular to the extending direction. It is formed in advance so that the surfaces whose direction width is d ₁ are in contact with each other. Hereinafter, the bending action of the extending member 3 on the body tissue of the pharynx will be described in detail.

  4A to 4C are schematic diagrams for explaining the bending action of the extending member 3 in the pharynx. 4A schematically illustrates the shape of the stretching member 3 at the time when the application of the bending stress to the stretching member 3 is started, and FIG. 4B illustrates the stretching member due to torsion caused by the applied stress. FIG. 4-3 schematically illustrates the shape of the extending member 3 that is curved in a mechanically stable state against bending stress.

  The extending member 3 has a structure connected to the capsule 1, and the extending direction changes substantially perpendicularly after the capsule 1 passes through the pharynx, thereby extending as schematically shown by an arrow in FIG. 4-1. A bending stress is applied to the member 3. Here, if it is a normal member, for example, a string-like member, it bends in the direction in which the bending stress is applied, but the stretching member 3 in the first embodiment is anisotropic with respect to the bending resistance unlike the string-like member. It has a structure with characteristics. That is, as described above, the extending member 3 is formed such that the bending resistance in the first direction is larger than the bending resistance in the second direction, and has a characteristic that it is easier to bend in the second direction than in the first direction. Have.

  Since it has such a characteristic, the extending | stretching member 3 is more stable mechanically in the direction bent in the 2nd direction with small bending resistance than it curves in a 1st direction. Therefore, the extending member 3 tries to bend in the second direction having a small bending resistance in accordance with the bending stress, and twists occur around the extending direction as shown in FIG. The axis is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the direction in which the bending stress is applied and the second direction coincide with each other with the broken line arrow in FIG.

As a result of the rotation as shown in FIG. 4B, the extending member 3 bends in a mechanically stable state because the second direction having a low bending resistance and the direction in which the bending stress is applied substantially coincide. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4-3, the extending member 3 is bent according to the direction of the bending stress and is mechanically stabilized in the state shown in FIG. 4-3. As a result, the portion of the extending member 3 that contacts the body tissue of the pharynx becomes a surface having a wide width d ₁ , and the position of the capsule 1 is adjusted while maintaining the state where the surface is in contact with the body tissue. . That is, as the capsule 1 moves, the portion of the stretching member 3 that contacts the body tissue of the pharynx changes, but even if the contact portion changes, the width of the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction is d ₂ . Does not contact the body tissue, and the state where the surface having the width d ₁ is in contact with the body tissue as shown in FIG. 4-3 is maintained.

  In addition, in FIG. 4-1, although the case where the application direction of the bending stress with respect to the extending | stretching member 3 at the time of the start of application of a bending stress and the 1st direction of the extending | stretching member 3 corresponded was demonstrated, it was another positional relationship However, as shown in FIG. 4-3, the extending member 3 changes to a shape curved in the second direction. For example, when the stress application direction and the second direction of the extending member 3 are parallel at the start of applying the bending stress, the extending direction of the extending member 3 is the same because the bending direction and the direction in which the bending resistance is weak are already matched. It curves in the second direction as it is without rotating about the stretching direction as an axis, and is mechanically stabilized with the same curved shape as in FIG. 4-3. Further, when the direction in which the bending stress is applied is non-parallel to both the first and second directions, the bending stress component acts in both the first and second directions, but is more easily bent. The stretching member 3 is curved in the second direction, and is stabilized in a curved shape similar to the example of FIG. 4-3 by rotating around the stretching direction so that the bending stress application direction and the bending direction coincide with each other. To do.

  Next, advantages of the in-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment will be described. First, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment alleviates or eliminates the uncomfortable feeling given to the subject 13 when the position of the capsule 1 is adjusted after the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject 13. Has the advantage of being possible.

As described above, the extending member 3 is formed to have the width d ₁ in the first direction and the width d ₂ (<d ₁ ) in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the cross-sectional shape, and the first direction. The bending resistance is greater than the bending resistance in the second direction. Therefore, when the extending member 3 is bent in the vicinity of the pharynx in the subject 13, the bending stress is in a state of being rotated as necessary so that the direction of the bending stress and the second direction having a low bending resistance are parallel to each other. The surface is curved in the application direction, and is mechanically stabilized in a state where the surface having a wider width d ₁ is in contact with the surface of the body tissue of the pharynx. In other words, in the first embodiment, when the position of the capsule 1 is adjusted, the extending member 3 is mechanically stabilized in a state where the contact area with the body tissue of the pharynx is maximized. Become. Accordingly, the value of the pressing force per unit contact area applied from the stretching member 3 to the body tissue is reduced, and the uncomfortable feeling that the subject 13 feels when adjusting the position of the capsule 1 can be alleviated or eliminated. It is.

  Further, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment suppresses the volume of the extending member 3 to the same level as that of the conventional string-like member while increasing the area in contact with the body tissue, and the capsule 1 is placed on the subject 13. This has the advantage that an increase in the sense of incongruity felt by the subject 13 can be avoided. As a structure that increases the contact area with the body tissue, for example, a structure in which the outer diameter of the extending member is increased is conceivable, but when such a structure is adopted, the volume of the extending member increases with the increase in the outer diameter. Will increase. Therefore, when the outer diameter of the extending member is increased, the subject 13 strongly feels a foreign object caused by the extending member having a volume that cannot be ignored when the capsule 1 is introduced into the object 13. Will be newly generated.

On the other hand, in the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment, the extending member 3 is formed so as to have a wide width in the first direction with respect to the cross-sectional shape, while being small in the second direction. As is well known, the volume of the extending member 3 is derived by multiplying the cross-sectional area by the length in the extending direction, and the value of the cross-sectional area is a value corresponding to the product of the width in the first direction and the width in the second direction. It becomes. In the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment, there is no reason to increase the value of the width d ₂ of the extending member 3 in the second direction. Rather, from the viewpoint of reducing the bending resistance in the second direction, It is preferable to make d ₂ as small as possible.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the product of the width d ₂ of the first width d ₁ and second directions with respect to the stretching members 3, to suppress to a certain value irrespective of the increase in the value of the width d ₁ In the in-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cross-sectional area of the extending member 3. As a result, the area occupied by the extending member 3 in the oral cavity of the subject 13 does not increase when the capsule 1 is introduced, and the subject 13 feels uncomfortable even though the contact area with the body tissue is increased. It has the advantage that an increase can be avoided.

  Furthermore, the in-subject introduction device according to the first embodiment has an advantage that the stretching member 3 can be easily manufactured. The conditions of the members constituting the stretching member 3 include that the cross-sectional shape has a width in the first direction larger than that in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the bending resistance in the first direction is the bending in the second direction. It is mentioned that it becomes a value smaller than resistance. As a structure satisfying such a condition, it can be easily realized by a sheet-like existing member having a predetermined length. For example, the extending member 3 is realized by a ribbon or the like used for packaging decoration or the like. Is possible. Therefore, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the first embodiment has an advantage that an existing member or the like can be used to realize the stretching member 3 and can be easily manufactured.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the intra-subject introduction device according to the second embodiment will be described. The in-subject introduction apparatus according to the second embodiment has a capsule having a predetermined insertion hole, and by inserting an extending member into the insertion hole and holding both ends of the extending member outside the object. It has the structure which connected the extending | stretching member with respect to.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the intra-subject introduction device according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a capsule 15 in which an insertion hole 15 a is formed, a stretching member 16 that is inserted into the insertion hole 15 a that is formed in the capsule 15, and stretching. A gripping portion 17 connected to both ends of the member 16 is provided.

  The insertion hole 15 a is formed to insert the extending member 16, and has a function of connecting the capsule 15 and the extending member 16 by arranging the extending member 16 so as to pass through the inserting hole 15 a. The capsule 15 has the same configuration as that of the capsule 1 in the first embodiment except for the insertion hole 15a, and incorporates a function execution unit 2 that executes a predetermined function. .

  Similar to the extending member 3 in the first embodiment, the extending member 16 has a predetermined width in the first direction with respect to the cross-sectional shape, and in the second direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the first direction, from the width in the first direction. Has a small width, and has a structure formed such that the bending resistance in the second direction is smaller than the bending resistance in the first direction. Further, the extending member 16 is slidably inserted into an insertion hole 15a formed in the capsule 15, and even when the capsule 1 is introduced into the subject, both ends are sufficient to remain outside the subject. It has a stretched length and has a function of adjusting the position of the capsule 15 by being pulled while holding both ends.

  The gripping part 17 is for fixing the positional relationship between both ends by connecting to both ends of the extending member 16. In the second embodiment, the extending member 16 has a configuration in which the extending member 16 is connected to the capsule 15 by being inserted through the insertion hole 15 a formed in the capsule 15. For this reason, when the position of the capsule 15 is adjusted, it is necessary to avoid the movement of the extending member 16 with respect to the insertion hole 15a. From this point of view, a configuration in which the gripping portion 17 is connected to both ends of the extending member 16 is adopted. In addition, as a connection aspect between the holding part 17 and the extending | stretching member 16, it is good also as adhering, for example, Preferably, while fixing with respect to the holding part 17 about one edge part, it is the other edge part As for, it shall be connected in a detachable state. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to easily perform treatment after the use of the capsule 15 is completed, as will be described later.

  A usage mode of the intra-subject introduction device according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state of position adjustment of the capsule 15 performed after the capsule 15 is introduced into the subject. As shown in FIG. 6, when the position of the capsule 15 is adjusted, the capsule 15 is pulled by the user pulling the gripping portion 17 while fixing the positional relationship between both ends of the extending member 16 by the gripping portion 17. Adjust the position of. By fixing the positional relationship between the both ends of the stretching member 16, as in the case of the first embodiment, when the stretching member 16 is pulled, the capsule 15 is pulled in the pulling direction via the contact portion. A force is applied, and the position of the capsule 15 is adjusted. When the position adjustment is performed, the surface having a large width in the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction is in contact with the body tissue as in the first embodiment, and unit contact given from the stretching member 16 to the body tissue. Of course, the pressing force per area is reduced.

  Next, an operation when the capsule 15 is discharged from the subject 13 will be described. After the use of the capsule 1 is completed, it is necessary to take out the capsule 15 to the outside of the subject 13, but in the second embodiment, the capsule 15 and the stretching member 16 are separated, and the stretching member 16 is passed through the oral cavity. On the other hand, the capsule 15 is discharged outside the subject 13 by passing through the digestive tract.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage mode of the intra-subject introduction device in a state where the use of the capsule 15 is completed. As shown in FIG. 7, after the use of the capsule 15 is completed, one end portion of the stretching member 16 is removed from the gripping portion 17, and the fixed state of the positional relationship between the both end portions of the stretching member 16 is released. By pulling the gripping part 17 in such a state, the extending member 16 is extracted from the insertion hole 15a, and the extending member 16 and the capsule 15 are separated. Thereafter, the extending member 16 is taken out of the subject 13 via the oral cavity, and the capsule 15 sequentially passes through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, etc., and is finally discharged out of the body.

  Next, advantages of the in-subject introduction device according to the second embodiment will be described. First, in the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the second embodiment, since the extending member 16 has the same cross-sectional shape as the extending member 3 in the first embodiment, the body of the pharynx is similar to the first embodiment. There are advantages such as increasing the contact area with the tissue and reducing the pressing force per unit contact area.

  Further, the in-subject introduction device according to the second embodiment has an advantage that the burden on the subject 13 can be reduced during the processing after the capsule is used. That is, since the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the second embodiment can separate the capsule 15 and the extending member 16 as described above, the capsule 15 is discharged together with excrement and the like in the body. On the other hand, the stretching member 16 can be collected through the oral cavity. For this reason, the in-subject introduction device according to the third embodiment has an advantage that the burden on the subject 13 can be reduced without having to go through the oral cavity when the capsule 15 is taken out of the subject 13. .

(Embodiment 3)
Next, the in-subject introduction device according to the third embodiment will be described. The in-subject introduction device according to the third embodiment has a structure in which the extending member is connected to the capsule so as to maintain continuity with the outer surface of the capsule.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the intra-subject introduction device according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the third embodiment includes the capsule 1 including the function execution unit 2 as in the first embodiment, but has a different connection mode with respect to the capsule 1. It has the structure provided with member 3a, 3b.

That is, the extending members 3a and 3b have the same structure as that of the extending member 3 in the first embodiment (that is, for example, a band shape so that the width d ₁ in the first direction is larger than the width d _{2 in} the second direction). Formed). On the other hand, the extending members 3a and 3b are formed so as to maintain continuity with the outer surface of the capsule 1 at the connection portions, respectively, and the outer surface from the capsule 1 to the extending members 3a and 3b changes gently. ing.

  The advantages of the intra-subject introduction device according to the third embodiment will be described. In addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, the in-subject introduction apparatus according to the third embodiment has the subject 13 when the connecting portion between the extending members 3a and 3b and the capsule 1 comes into contact with the body tissue of the subject 13. It is possible to reduce or eliminate the uncomfortable feeling that occurs.

  For example, after the imaging of the in-subject image using the capsule 1 is completed, the capsule 1 is taken out of the subject 13 via the oral cavity by pulling the extending members 3a and 3b from the outside of the subject. It becomes. As apparent from FIG. 3 and the like, in such a case, one of the extending members 3a and 3b first comes into contact with the internal tissue of the pharynx, but as the capsule 1 approaches the oral cavity, The contacting member changes from the stretching members 3 a and 3 b to the capsule 1.

  Here, when the area of the contact surface with respect to the body tissue changes discontinuously when the contact member for the body tissue changes, the value of the pressing force per unit contact area that becomes a value according to the contact area also becomes discontinuous. As a result, the subject 13 is strongly discomforted as in the case where the absolute value of the pressing force per unit contact area is large. Therefore, in the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the third embodiment, the extending members 3a and 3b are connected to the capsule 1 so as to maintain the continuity of the outer surface, and by realizing such a connection mode, The generation of discontinuous changes in the pressing force per unit contact area is suppressed or prevented, and the uncomfortable feeling given to the subject 13 is reduced or eliminated.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, the in-subject introduction device according to the fourth embodiment will be described. In the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the extending member changes so that the width in the first direction becomes larger than the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction when external force is applied. Formed.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the intra-subject introduction device according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in the fourth embodiment, the extending member 21 is formed by a member having a substantially constant outer diameter in a natural state (a state where no external force is applied), whereas It is formed of a flexible material that can be easily deformed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the extending member 21 when an external force is applied. Since the extending member 21 is formed of a flexible material, as shown in FIG. 10, an external force is applied from a state having a substantially constant outer diameter (part indicated by a broken line in FIG. 10). As indicated by the solid line, the cross-sectional shape changes due to compression in the external force application direction. That is, when the external force application direction is the second direction and the direction perpendicular to the second direction is the first direction as shown in FIG. In addition, the width d _{1 in} the first direction is larger than the width d ₂ in the second direction.

  Next, the point that the stretching member 21 provided in the intra-subject introduction apparatus according to the fourth embodiment can reduce the uncomfortable feeling given to the subject as in the stretching member 3 and the like in the first embodiment will be described. The extending member 21 receives vertical drag from the body tissue as a reaction of the pressing force applied to the body tissue in contact with the body tissue of the pharynx. When the normal force acts as an external force, the normal force is applied to the second direction in FIG. 10, the cross-sectional shape of the extending member 21 is changed, and the width in the first direction is larger than the width in the second direction. Become.

Here, since the normal force is applied in the normal direction of the surface of the body tissue with which the extending member 21 contacts, in the example of FIG. 10, the surface of the body tissue has the second direction as the normal direction. . Therefore, the extending member 21 deformed by the normal force is in contact with the surface of the body tissue, the surface having the second direction as the normal line, that is, the surface having the width d ₁ . This contact mode is the same as in Embodiment 1 and the like, and in Embodiment 4 as well, the extending member 21 has a wide surface in contact with the body tissue, and the value of the pressing force per unit contact area is set. It is possible to reduce or eliminate the uncomfortable feeling given to the subject. As described above, the extending member does not always need to maintain the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 10, even if the extending member is deformed according to an external force, the same advantages as in the first embodiment are obtained. It is possible to enjoy.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated over Embodiment 1-4, this invention should not be limited to said embodiment and should be interpreted by those skilled in the art to various Examples and modifications. Is possible. For example, in Embodiments 1 to 4, the capsule 1 or the like is used as the tip, but the structure of the intra-subject introduction device need not be limited to that using a capsule.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an endoscope apparatus as an example of an in-subject introduction apparatus that does not use a capsule. As shown in FIG. 11, the endoscope device 22 is connected to a distal end portion 23 having a function execution unit such as a CCD and an illumination light source built therein, and the distal end portion 23, and a predetermined pipe line and the like are formed therein. The insertion portion 24 includes an operation portion 25 that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 24 and that allows a user to perform a predetermined operation while holding the insertion portion 24. Here, since the insertion portion 24 has a structure that is connected to the distal end portion 23 and is extended by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the distal end portion 23, the insertion portion 24 can function as an example of the extending member in the present invention. For this reason, the same advantage as in the first to fourth embodiments can be obtained by making the insertion portion 24 the same structure as that of any of the extending members 3, 16, and 21 in the first to fourth embodiments. As described above, the configuration of the in-subject introduction apparatus should not be interpreted as being limited to the capsule endoscope, and includes a distal end portion and an extending member connected to the distal end portion, such as an endoscope apparatus. Any device can function as the intra-subject introduction device in the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an intra-subject introduction device according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cross-sectional shape of the extending | stretching member which comprises the in-subject introduction apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which introduce | transduced the in-subject introduction apparatus into the subject. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the bending effect | action of an extending | stretching member. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the bending effect | action of an extending | stretching member. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the bending effect | action of an extending | stretching member. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an intra-subject introduction device according to a second embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which introduce | transduced the in-subject introduction apparatus into the subject. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the aspect which takes out a capsule and an extending | stretching member outside a subject. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an intra-subject introduction device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an in-subject introduction device according to a fourth embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the cross-sectional shape change of the extending | stretching member when external force is given. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus which is a modification of the in-subject introduction apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the conventional intra-subject introduction apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Capsule 2 Function execution part 3, 3a, 3b Stretching member 13 Subject 15 Capsule 15a Insertion hole 16 Stretching member 17 Holding part 21 Stretching member 22 Endoscope 23 End part 24 Insertion part 25 Operation part 100 Capsule type endoscope 101 Capsule 102 String member 103 Grasping part

Claims (4)

In the in-subject introduction apparatus comprising a tip portion introduced into the subject and a stretching member that is flexible and extends in a direction away from the tip portion.
The tip has an insertion hole through which the extending member can be inserted,
The extending member is connected to the tip in a state where a part thereof is inserted through the insertion hole, and has a substantially rectangular cross section, and the width of the substantially rectangular cross section in the first direction is Introduction into a subject characterized by being formed so as to be larger than a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and having a bending resistance in the second direction smaller than a bending resistance in the first direction. apparatus. Incorporating a function execution means for executing a predetermined function, and an in-subject introduction apparatus provided with a tip portion that is introduced into the subject via the oral cavity during use,
The tip has an insertion hole,
A portion is connected to the distal end portion in a state of being inserted through the insertion hole , is flexible and extends a predetermined length in a direction away from the distal end portion, and at least of the pharynx of the subject An in-subject introduction apparatus comprising an extending member formed so that a width of a contact surface with respect to a body tissue is larger than a width in a normal direction of the contact surface at a portion in contact with the body tissue. The extending member has a width in the first direction in the cross section that is greater than the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the bending resistance in the second direction is greater than the bending resistance in the first direction. The in-subject introduction device according to claim 2 , wherein the introduction device is formed to be small. The stretching member is the body-insertable apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is formed by a strip-shaped member.

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