| Summary |
 |
| Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
(President: Koji Miyata) has developed key technologies, centered
on "Capsule guidance system" and "Wireless power supply
system", for capsule endoscopes to be used in all parts of the
gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, the stomach and the
colon. Olympus has always believed it is essential to equip capsule
endoscopes with functions that enable them to be freely operated within
the gastrointestinal tract without batteries, just like today's gastrointestinal
endoscopes. It continues development work on the associated necessary
technologies for treatment and diagnosis, as well as observation. |
|
| Capsule endoscope technology |
|
| (1) |
Technology of capsule endoscope |
: |
Compact, low power-consumption imaging technology,
wireless transmission technology |
| (2) |
Capsule guidance system |
: |
Navigates (capsule) freely within the gastrointestinal
tract |
| (3) |
Wireless power supply system |
: |
Eliminates constraints on operating time and
energy levels |
| (4) |
Drug delivery system |
: |
Administer drugs directly to the affected area |
| (5) |
Body fluid sampling technology |
: |
Extracts body fluid for diagnosis and analysis
|
| (6) |
Self-propelled capsule |
: |
Propels (capsule) freely within the gastrointestinal
tract |
| (7) |
Ultrasound capsule |
: |
Ultrasound scanning from inside the body |
|
|
In connection with (1), Olympus initiated clinical trials
in the fall of 2004 with a view to commercializing a passive,
observation only-type capsule endoscope for use in small intestine
applications. |
|
|
| Background to technological development |
|
| In the area of gastrointestinal endoscopes, Olympus
has developed various fiberscopes and videoscopes since it unveiled
the first practical gastrocamera in 1950. One of the most recent extra-slim
video endoscopes feature high-definition observation, another a distal-end
outer diameter measuring only 5mm. Olympus has also prepared a range
of endotherapy accessories, including devices for arresting bleeding,
excising polyps and mucous membrane and recovering foreign bodies
with minimum invasiveness. These promote greater efficiency in medical
institutions and help improve quality of life for the patients. Gastrointestinal
endoscopes are now recognized as the only medical devices that can
simultaneously perform observations, diagnoses (tissue extraction),
and treatment. As a result, they are now widely used in medical institutions
throughout Japan. |
|
| Meanwhile, capsule endoscopes differ from conventional
endoscopes in that they do not involve tube insertions. Instead, this
examination method is expected to make life easier for patients because
the endoscopes take the form of easy-to-swallow capsules that do not
require topical anesthesia in the throat. After they have been taken
orally, the capsule endoscopes generally available today are carried
through the body by the peristaltic movement of the stomach and the
intestines. During this process, they automatically take images of
the gastrointestinal tract. |
|
| Olympus has for many years continued research into
bringing the functionality of capsule endoscopes steadily closer to
the functionality of conventional endoscopes. The most recently developed
technologies are the key to developing the capsule endoscopes of the
future. They include technology to control the capsule endoscope so
that it can easily be brought closer to the part of the body that
needs to be examined, and look at parts that are in shadow. Other
technologies eliminate the need for batteries inside the capsule by
providing electricity from outside the body, allow drugs to be delivered
directly to the target affected area, and allow samples to be collected
for diagnosis and analysis. |
|
| Descriptions of Individual Technologies |
|
| (1) Passive capsule observation endoscopes(Technology
of capsule endoscope) |
| These basic capsule endoscopes are equipped with the
basic technologies needed for observation. The capsule is 26mm long
with an external diameter of 11mm. It features compact, low power-consumption
imaging technology and wireless transmission technology. |
|
| With a view to commercializing this type for use in
small intestine applications, Olympus initiated clinical trials in
the fall of 2004. |
|
| Compact, low power-consumption imaging
technology |
A supersensitive image pickup device illuminates
the interior of the body and captures images through an
ultra-compact lens. |
| Compact, low power-consumption wireless
transmission technology |
The images captured by the image pickup
device are transmitted outside the body by wireless through
an ultra-small antenna. |
|
|
|
|
| (2) Capsule guidance system |
| This technology uses magnetism to freely control the
capsule’s movements. Olympus is working on development in a
joint effort with the Arai/Ishiyama Laboratory, Research Institute
of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University. The principle behind
the technology calls for the creation of a uniform magnetic field
in any direction (N/S Poles) by an external magnetic field generator
using three pairs of opposing electromagnets arranged in three directions
X, Y and Z (vertically, laterally and depths). The capsule endoscope
can then be turned in any desired direction by means of its built-in
magnet. The free directional magnetic field is then used to generate
a rotating magnet field which rotates the capsule, generating thrust
through the spiral structure on the capsule’s exterior. Since
this allows free control of forward and reverse motion and motional
direction, the capsule can be made to approach the part of the body
to be inspected. The direction of observation can also be adjusted.
|
|
 |
|
 |
Conceptual diagram of the
capsule
guidance principle |
Conceptual diagram of the
free directional
magnetic field generation |
| Joint R&D
with: The Arai/Ishiyama Laboratory, Research Institute of Electrical
Communication, Tohoku University |
|
|
| (3) Wireless power supply system |
| This technology provides an extracorporeal supply of the energy
required for the capsule's built-in compact image pickup device
and image transmission from within the capsule. Coils located
outside the body use electromagnetic induction to provide electric
power to the receiving coils inside the capsule. This makes
it possible to secure the electric energy needed for long-term
observations and the instantaneous electric power needed for
high frame-rate photography. |
|
 |
|
|
| Comparison with built-in battery-powered models |
|
| |
Operating time |
Instantaneous power |
| Wireless power supply |
Unlimited |
5 frames/second possible |
| Built-in battery |
8 hours |
2 frames/second possible |
|
|
|
| (4) Drug delivery system |
| Inside the capsule there is a deflatable balloon containing
drugs fitted with a small valve that can be controlled by communications
from outside the body. This allows drugs to be delivered freely at
any given time or place. |
|
| (5) Body fluid sampling technology |
| There is also a negatively-pressurized space within
the capsule for storing extracted body fluids using a small valve
that can be controlled by communications from outside the body. This
is useful for diagnosis and analysis because it allows free collection
of body fluids. |
|
| (6) Self-propelled capsule |
| The body of the capsule can propel itself freely within
the gastrointestinal tract because it is fitted with an a mechanism
that serves as a propelling mechanism and requires no external driving
apparatus. Olympus is currently working on the development of several
types of propelling mechanisms, including a twin-spiral type and a
caterpillar-type. |
|
| (7) Ultrasound capsule |
| The ultrasound capsule makes it possible to conduct
ultrasound scanning from inside the body because it incorporates the
necessary miniaturized functions within itself. Since it radiates
ultrasound from inside the body cavities, it is expected to deliver
higher-resolution ultrasound images with less attenuation than those
obtainable from external ultrasonography. |
|
*The medical systems group of Olympus Corporation was reorganized as a separate company, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation, as of October 1, 2004.
*The company names and product names specified in this release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.
