Intra-subject medical system, method of operating body-insertable apparatus and operative treatment

Abstract

Provided is an intra-subject medical system which includes a body-insertable device and a physical quantity generator. The body-insertable device is to be introduced into a subject, is covered by a capsule-shaped exterior member, and includes a physical quantity detecting member which has a directivity to detect a predetermined physical quantity; at least one functional member which has a necessary function for examining or treating inside the subject; and a switch control unit which controls an on/off states or operation mode of the at least one functional member when the physical quantity detecting member detects a physical quantity. The physical quantity generator has a physical quantity emitting unit which emits a temporary physical quantity inside the subject; and a physical quantity direction changing unit which changes an emission direction of the physical quantity.

1 . A body-insertable device to be introduced into a subject, comprising:
 a magnetic field detecting member which has a directivity to detect a magnetic field;   at least one functional member which has a necessary function for examining or treating inside the subject; and   a switch control unit which controls an on/off states or operation mode of the at least one functional member when the magnetic field detecting member detects a magnetic field,   wherein the body-insertable device includes a permanent magnet so as to control a direction of the body-insertable device, according to a magnetic field generated outside the subject, and   the permanent magnet and the a magnetic field generating direction of the permanent magnet and the magnetic field detecting member are arranged such that a magnetic field generating direction of the permanent magnet is perpendicular to a magnetism detecting direction of the magnetic field detecting member.   
     
     
         2 . The body-insertable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generating direction of the permanent magnet is perpendicular to an axial direction of the body-insertable device, and
 the magnetism detecting direction of the magnetic field detecting member is in parallel to the axial direction.   
     
     
         3 . The body-insertable device according to  claim 1 , wherein when a first magnetic field generating member for emitting a temporal magnetic field inside the subject and a second magnetic field generating member for generating a magnetic field toward the subject in a predetermined direction are arranged around the subject, the permanent magnet generates a force to move to a stable direction according to a polarity in the magnetic field in the predetermined direction, so that the direction of the body-insertable device is controlled by the force generated by the permanent magnet and the temporal magnetic field is emitted by the first magnetic field generating member in the direction in which the magnetic field detecting member has its directivity. 
     
     
         4 . The body-insertable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional member is at least one of an observing member for obtaining an image in the subject, a radio member for performing radio transmission of information of inside of the body-insertable device to outside the subject, a medical solution release member for releasing medical solution in the subject, a marking member for marking a desired site in the subject, a bodily fluid/tissue sampling member for sampling bodily fluid or tissue in the subject, and an operation arm member for extending and contracting the arm in the subject.