System for detecting position of capsule endoscope in subject

Abstract

A system is for detecting a position of a device. The device is swallowed, passes through a subject, and includes a magnetic field generator generating a constant magnetic field. The system also includes a position transducer. The position transducer includes a magnetic detector detecting an intensity of a magnetic field component parallel to a constant magnetic field output from the magnetic field generator, and a position processor calculating a position of the device in the subject based on the intensity detected by the magnetic detector.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a swallowable device that is swallowed and passes through a subject, the swallowable device includes;   a casing,   a first case member that is held in the casing,   a first spherical body that is disposed in the first case member,   a first liquid that fills a clearance between an inner surface of the first case member and an outer surface of the first spherical body,   a magnetic field generator that is disposed in the first spherical body and generates a constant magnetic field, an orientation of the magnetic field generator being irrespective of fluctuation in an orientation of the swallowable device, and   a first weighting member that is disposed in the first spherical body; and   a magnetic detector that includes   a second case member,   a second spherical body that is disposed in the second case member,   a second liquid that fills a clearance between an inner surface of the second case member and an outer surface of the second spherical body,   a magnetic sensor that is disposed in the second spherical body and detects an intensity of the constant magnetic field, an orientation of the magnetic sensor being irrespective of fluctuation in an orientation of the second case member,   a second weighting member that is disposed in the second spherical body,   a magnetic measurement controller that is disposed in the second spherical body and controls the magnetic sensor,   a first transmitting/receiving unit that is disposed in the second spherical body, connected to the magnetic measurement controller, and modulates/demodulates a signal at the time of performing radio communications with outside of the second spherical body, and   a second transmitting/receiving unit that is disposed outside of the second spherical body and modulates/demodulates a signal at the time of performing radio communications with the inside of the second spherical body.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first weighting member is arranged on a line extended from the magnetic field generator, the line being in a direction of the constant magnetic field in the magnetic field generator, and   the second weighting member is arranged on a line extended from the magnetic sensor, the line being in a direction of the magnetic field detection.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein a direction of the constant magnetic field in the magnetic field generator is parallel to a direction of the magnetic field detection. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a position processor that is disposed outside of the second spherical body and calculates a position of the swallowable device in the subject based on the intensity of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic detector. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the magnetic detector that further includes;   a power supplying antenna that is disposed outside of the second spherical body and transmits a power supply signal to inside of the second spherical body,   a power supply unit that is disposed outside of the second spherical body and electrically connected to the power supplying antenna,   a controller that is disposed outside of the second spherical body and electrically connected to the power supply unit and the second transmitting/receiving unit,   a power receiving antenna that is disposed in the second spherical body and receives the power supply signal transmitted from outside of the second spherical body,   a power receiving unit that is disposed in the second spherical body and converts the power supply signal transmitted from the outside to power, and   a capacitor that is disposed in the second spherical body and holds the power converted at the power receiving unit.