著者

千葉 淳 仙道 雅彦 石山 和志 荒井 賢一

出版者

公益社団法人日本磁気学会

雑誌

日本応用磁気学会誌 (ISSN:18804004)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.29, no.3, pp.343-346, 2005-03-01

被引用文献数

2 12

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Application of a magnetic actuator to a capsule endoscope is proposed. Capsule-type magnetic actuators were fabricated and their motion properties were investigated in a silicone tube and in the intestine of a pig. The dummy capsule is 11mm in diameter and 40mm in length. This magnetic actuator is composed of a permanent magnet inside the dummy capsule and spiral structures outside it. The permanent magnet is magnetized in the direction of the diameter. When a rotational magnetic field is applied, the magnetic actuator rotates and moves wirelessly. The velocity of capsules with top spirals was examined in a silicone tube. In addition, a motion test was conducted in the intestine of a pig. The actuator can pass through the small and the large intestines over distances of 450mm and 400mm, respectively, in less than 150s. The capsule can pass out of the bag-shaped section of the large intestine. This result shows that the actuator has the potential to be used in the guidance system of a capsule endoscope.