著者

千葉 淳 仙道 雅彦 石山 和志 荒井 賢一

出版者

社団法人日本生体医工学会

雑誌

生体医工学 : 日本エム・イー学会誌 (ISSN:1347443X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.42, no.4, pp.313-317, 2004-12-10

被引用文献数

1

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In this paper, the authors propose applying a magnetic actuator to a capsule endoscope. We fabricated a capsule-type magnetic actuator and investigated its moving properties in a silicone tube and in pig intestines. The device consists of a dummy capsule measuring 11 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length, a magnetic actuator composed of a permanent magnet inside the dummy capsule and a 1-mmφ spiral structure outside the capsule. 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. In this study, we measured the effect of the spiral shape on the velocity and thrust properties. According to our experimental results using the silicone tube, the optimal actuator was formed with 4 spirals set at a spiral angle of 45 degrees. In the subsequent moving test performed in pig intestines, the actuator traveled a distance of 450 mm to its destination in the large intestine in 150 s, and a distance of 400 mm to its destination in the small intestine in 110s. This result confirms the potential applicability of the actuator as a guidance system for capsule endoscopes.