In-body information acquiring apparatus and power-supply circuit

Abstract

An in-body information acquiring apparatus includes a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient. A power-supply circuit includes a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A power-supply circuit for an in-body information acquiring apparatus, the in-body information acquiring apparatus having a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient, comprising: 
 a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and    a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.    
     
     
         2 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the power unit includes a plurality of cells, and the cells are electrically connected to each other so as to output the first current and the first voltage.  
     
     
         3 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the cells are connected in parallel.  
     
     
         4 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 3 , wherein the converter is a step-up converter that steps-up the first voltage to the second voltage.  
     
     
         5 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the step-up converter is a step-up switching regulator circuit.  
     
     
         6 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the step-up converter is a charge pump.  
     
     
         7 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein the cells are connected in series.  
     
     
         8 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 7 , wherein the converter is a step-down converter that steps-down the first voltage to the second voltage.  
     
     
         9 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 8 , wherein the step-down converter is a step-down switching regulator circuit.  
     
     
         10 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 8 , wherein the step-up converter is a linear regulator.  
     
     
         11 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell is a silver-oxide button cell.  
     
     
         12 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell is a SR726SW cell.  
     
     
         13 . A power-supply circuit for an in-body information acquiring apparatus, the in-body information acquiring apparatus having a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient, comprising: 
 a power unit that includes 
 a first power unit that includes a cell that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and  
 a second power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a second current and a second voltage; and  
   a switch that selectively connects any one of the first power unit and the second power unit to the function executing unit for a predetermined period so as to convert the first current or the second current to a third current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit predetermined time, and converts the first voltage or the second voltage to a third voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.    
     
     
         14 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 the first power unit includes a plurality of cells, and the cells are connected in series to each other so as to output the first current and the first voltage; and    the second power unit includes a plurality of cells, and the cells are connected in series to each other so as to output the second current and the second voltage.    
     
     
         15 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein the cell is a silver-oxide button cell.  
     
     
         16 . The power-supply circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein the cell is a SR726SW cell.  
     
     
         17 . An in-body information acquiring apparatus comprising: 
 a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient;    a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and    a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.    
     
     
         18 . The in-body information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the function executing unit includes 
 a sensor that collects information from the inside the body of the patient; and    a communication unit that transmits the information to outside by using wireless communications.    
     
     
         19 . The in-body information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is an imaging unit that collects image signal corresponding to an image inside the body of the patient.  
     
     
         20 . An in-body information acquiring apparatus comprising: 
 a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient;    a power unit that includes 
 a first power unit that includes a cell that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and  
 a second power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a second current and a second voltage; and  
   a switch that selectively connects any one of the first power unit and the second power unit to the function executing unit for a predetermined period so as to convert the first current or the second current to a third current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit predetermined time, and converts the first voltage or the second voltage to a third voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.    
     
     
         21 . The in-body information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the function executing unit includes 
 a sensor that collects information from the inside the body of the patient; and    a communication unit that transmits the information to outside by using wireless communications.    
     
     
         22 . The in-body information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the sensor is an imaging unit that collects image signal corresponding to an image inside the body of the patient.