JPH05228128A - Capsule for medical treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the capsule for medical treatment which has good responsiveness, can draw the bodily fluid from a desired section and dose drugs to this part and is safe to the human body. CONSTITUTION:This capsule is constituted by providing a reservoir 2 housing the drugs, the bodily fluid, etc., a liquid crystal gel actuator 3 for changing the volume of this reservoir 2 and a switching circuit 8 for controlling the operation of this liquid crystal gel actuator 3 within a capsule body 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical capsule for administration into the body cavity of a living body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, drug release into the body cavity of a living body,
A medical capsule capable of electrically controlling body fluid collection at any time is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-19140. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-19140 discloses a medical capsule that uses a mechanochemical substance that expands in volume based on the PH value or by applying a voltage. According to this medical capsule, the volume of the mechanochemical substance in the capsule is changed to release the drug solution in the storage chamber.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned medical capsule, a mechanochemical substance is used as a means for changing the volume of the liquid medicine storage chamber of the medical capsule, but the mechanochemical substance is inferior in responsiveness. However, it is difficult to collect body fluid or administer a drug after passing a target site, or to reliably collect a body fluid or administer a drug at a desired site.

A medical capsule using a shape memory alloy is also conceivable, but since the shape memory alloy deforms when it is heated to a temperature higher than the body temperature, there is a problem that the human body is thermally affected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to have good responsiveness, to collect body fluid at a desired site, to administer a drug, and to be safe for the human body. To provide various medical capsules.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a medical capsule of the present invention has a storage chamber for storing a drug, body fluid, etc., and a means for changing the volume of the storage chamber. The means for changing the volume of the storage chamber is constituted by a liquid crystal gel actuator and a means for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal gel actuator.

[0007]

According to the medical capsule of the above construction, electrodes are provided at both ends of the polymer liquid crystal of the liquid crystal gel actuator, and when a voltage is applied between the electrodes by means for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal gel actuator, the electrodes are moved in the direction of the electrodes. By contracting and changing the volume of the storage chamber that stores the drug, body fluid, etc. of the medical capsule, the liquid medicine is administered to a desired site,
It becomes possible to collect a body fluid at a desired position.

[0008]

Embodiments of the medical capsule of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment, 1 is a capsule main body formed in a cylindrical shape by a material harmless to a living body, and 2 is a reservoir as a storage chamber for storing a drug or body fluid. Is. By changing the volume of this reservoir 2,
The liquid crystal gel actuator 3 and the liquid crystal gel actuator 3 are provided as means for administering a drug or containing body fluid.
The control unit 4 controls the operation of the. The liquid crystal gel actuator 3 and the control unit 4 are separated by a partition plate 5.

In the liquid crystal gel actuator 3, electrodes are provided at both ends of the polymer liquid crystal, and when an electric voltage is applied between the electrodes, the electrostrictive actuators are contracted in the direction of the electrodes, and returned by the voltage removal. It is composed by. The liquid crystal gel actuator 3 does not generate high heat or hydrogen gas even if it is energized for a certain long time, and is therefore safe for the human body.

The material of the liquid crystal gel actuator 3 is, for example, a side chain type polymer liquid crystal having a structure containing a ferroelectric mesogen group in the side chain, and polysiloxane in the main chain.
It is composed of a polymer liquid crystal having a polybutadiene or polyethylene structure or the like, or a liquid crystal elastomer obtained by crosslinking them into an elastomer.

At the connecting portion between the reservoir 2 and the capsule body 1, a communication hole 6 is formed as a communication passage for communicating the reservoir 2 to the outside. Further, the control unit 4 is provided with a battery 7 as an energy source, a switching circuit 8 as means for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal gel actuator 3, an antenna 9 and a receiving circuit 10 for receiving a signal from the outside. ..

The antenna 9 is connected to the receiving circuit 10, and the receiving circuit 10 is electrically connected to the switching circuit 8. The switching circuit 8 is electrically connected to the battery 7.

Of the electrodes at both ends of the liquid crystal gel actuator 3 in the axial direction, the electrode attached to the reservoir 2 is the battery 7, and the electrode attached to the partition plate 5 is the switching circuit 8. It is electrically connected. The surface of the capsule body 1 is coated with a contrast agent so that it can be seen through X-rays.

When the medical capsule of the first embodiment thus constructed is used for collecting intestinal fluid, for example, FIG.
As shown in (a), the medical capsule has nothing in the reservoir 2 when it is not energized. In this state, the medical capsule is orally administered from outside the living body. When radio waves are transmitted from outside the body at the time when this medical capsule seems to have reached the small intestine, the receiving circuit 10 passes through the antenna 9.
Is received, the switching circuit 8 is turned on,
The voltage of the battery 7 is applied to the liquid crystal gel actuator 3. Then, the liquid crystal gel actuator 3 contracts in the axial direction. At that time, since the volume of the reservoir 2 is expanded,
The intestinal fluid 11 is collected through the communication hole 6 as shown in (b).

As the timing of transmitting the radio wave, if the capsule body 1 is coated with an image-forming agent, the site where the intestinal fluid is to be collected may be confirmed by X-rays, or ultrasonic waves may be applied from outside the body to position the medical capsule. You may check.

Therefore, in this medical capsule, collection of body fluid can be controlled promptly at any time by transmitting from outside the body. Moreover, since it does not generate high heat or hydrogen gas when energized, it is safe for the human body.

Although intestinal fluid was collected as the body fluid in this embodiment, other body fluids can also be collected. Further, when not energized, the state shown in FIG. 1 (b) is set, the drug is stored in the reservoir 2 in advance, and the state of FIG.
By expanding the liquid crystal gel actuator 3 and contracting the reservoir 2 as shown in (a), the drug contained in the reservoir 2 can be administered to a desired site at any time and by transmission from outside the body.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the control unit 4.
Is the same as the embodiment described above. The same components as those shown in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In addition to the battery 7, the control section 14 of this embodiment is provided with a switch terminal 15 as means for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal gel actuator 3. In addition, the capsule body 1 is provided at the joint between the switch terminal 15 and the capsule body 1.
16 has a hole 16 formed in its wall, and the hole 16 is closed by a digestive membrane 17.

The digestive membrane 17 is made of, for example, a type such as a fatty acid membrane that is soluble by sensing a high PH value, or a type that is soluble by reacting with intestinal bacteria. Further, the switch terminal 15 includes two terminals 15a in an insulated state,
It is composed of 15b.

According to the medical capsule having the above-mentioned structure, it is the same as that of the first embodiment up to the point of oral administration. If the digestive membrane 17 is of a type that dissolves in response to a high PH value such as a fatty acid membrane, when the medical capsule reaches the small intestine, the digestive membrane 17 reacts and dissolves because the inside of the small intestine is alkaline. .. (Since the gastric juice is strongly acidic, the digestive membrane 17 does not react.) Then, the body fluid enters the switch terminal 15. Terminal 1, which was initially in an insulated state
5a and 15b electrically communicate with each other through the body fluid, and the battery 7
Is applied to the liquid crystal gel actuator 3. The subsequent volume sampling operation is similar to that of the first embodiment described above. Further, in addition to the action and effect of the first embodiment, the bodily fluid can be automatically and promptly collected at an appropriate site in the body without transmitting a signal from outside the body.

Alternatively, the drug may be stored in the reservoir 2 in advance, and when the desired site is reached, the digestive membrane 17 is thawed so that the drug stored in the reservoir 2 can be administered.

The third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
Shown in. The medical capsule according to the present embodiment includes a laminated liquid crystal gel actuator 20 coated with a material harmless to a living body, a control chamber 21 and a control part wall 22 for operating the same, and a partition wall 23 as a joint part thereof.
It consists of and.

The liquid crystal gel actuator 20 has a donut shape in which the periphery of the axis is hollowed out, and a core rod 25 is provided in the hollowed out portion. The liquid crystal gel actuator 20 and one end of the core rod 25 are separated from each other by a partition wall 23.
Although the other end of the liquid crystal gel actuator 20 is longer than the core rod 25 at the time of non-energization as shown in FIG. 3A, a drug storage chamber 27 for storing the drug 26 is formed. Has been done. Further, in order to prevent the medicine 26 from leaking from the medicine storage chamber 27, a thin film 28 as a lid is provided in a portion where the medicine storage chamber 27 communicates with the outside.

In the control room 21, a battery 30 as an energy source, a switching circuit 31, an antenna 32 and a receiving circuit 33 for receiving a signal from the outside are provided. The antenna 32 is electrically connected to the receiving circuit 33, and the receiving circuit 33 is electrically connected to the switching circuit 31. In addition, the switching circuit 31
Are electrically connected to the battery 30. Of the electrodes at both ends of the liquid crystal gel actuator 20, one is electrically connected to the battery 30 and the other is electrically connected to the switching circuit 31. The surface of this capsule may be coated with a contrast agent so that it can be seen through X-rays.

When the medical capsule having the above-mentioned structure is used for drug release, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the drug 26 is stored in the drug storage chamber 27 in a non-energized state. There is.

In this state, first, a medical capsule is orally administered. If it is desired to administer the drug 26 to the small intestine, radio waves are emitted from outside the body at the time when the medical capsule seems to reach the small intestine. When this is received by the receiving circuit 33 through the antenna 32, the switching circuit 31 is turned on, and the voltage of the battery 30 is applied to the liquid crystal gel actuator 20. As a result, the liquid crystal gel actuator 20 contracts in the axial direction. At that time, since the core rod 25 does not change, the drug 26 is pushed by the end surface of the core rod 25 and the thin film 28
And is released outside the capsule as shown in FIG.
Therefore, the liquid crystal gel actuator 20 contracts and the drug 26
When the drug is released, the drug storage chamber 27 and the thin film 28 are almost in a disappeared state.

If the surface of the capsule is coated with a contrast agent as the timing of transmitting radio waves, the portion to which the drug is to be released may be confirmed by X-rays, or ultrasonic waves may be applied from outside the body to confirm the position of the capsule. Good.

Therefore, the drug 2 from the medical capsule
Release of 6 can be promptly controlled at any time by transmission from outside the body. Moreover, since high heat and hydrogen gas cannot be generated when electricity is applied, it is safe for the human body. In each of the first, second, and third embodiments described above, the liquid crystal gel actuator that contracts when a voltage is applied is used in any case, but this actuator uses a liquid crystal gel actuator that expands when a voltage is applied, whereby a drug is stored. Chamber 27
The volume may be changed.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a coil-shaped liquid crystal gel actuator 40 is used. Electrodes 41 and 42 are provided at both ends of the coil-shaped liquid crystal gel actuator 40 as shown in FIG. 4, and lead wires 43 and 44 are provided respectively.
Are connected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the medical capsule 50 in this embodiment is composed of a rotary lid 51, a drug accommodating chamber 52, and a control chamber 53, each of which is formed in a cylindrical shape. The liquid crystal gel actuator 40 in the form of a coil is provided around the drug storage chamber 52, one end of which is fixed to the rotary lid 51 and the other end of which is fixed to the control chamber 53. The medicine storage chamber 52 is fixed to the control chamber 53.

The coil-shaped liquid crystal gel actuator 40 is fixed to the rotary lid 51 and the control chamber 53 in a stretched state so as to be longer than its natural length.
1 is held in contact with the medicine containing chamber 52 by the biasing force of the coil-shaped liquid crystal gel actuator 40.

FIG. 5B shows a rotary lid 51 from the front of the capsule.
It is the figure which looked at. A communication hole 54 is provided in the rotary lid 51, and elastic members 55, 56, 57 having a high elasticity such as rubber are embedded therein. Further, in the medicine storage chamber 52 as well, at the positions corresponding to the elastic members 55, 56, 57, the discharge holes 58, 59,
60 is provided.

Further, inside the medicine storage chamber 52, the thin film reservoirs 61a, 61b, 6 made of a material having a great elasticity such as latex are provided in the respective discharge holes 58, 59, 60.
1c is provided. (Thin film reservoirs 61a and 61b are shown in FIG. 5 (a))

On the other hand, in the control room 53, the battery 63, the switching circuit 64, the antenna 65 and the receiving circuit 6 are provided.
6 is provided. The antenna 65 is electrically connected to the receiving circuit 66, and the receiving circuit 66 is the switching circuit 64.
Electrically connected to. The switching circuits 64 are electrically connected to the batteries 63, respectively. Also,
The lead wire 44 is electrically connected to the battery 63, and the lead wire 43 is electrically connected to the switching circuit 64.

According to the medical capsule thus constructed, the drug 67 is first injected into the thin film reservoirs 61a and 61b. In FIG. 5A, the drug 67 has already been injected into the thin film reservoir 61a. Therefore, first, a method of injecting the drug 67 into the thin film reservoir 61a will be described. First, the medicine 67 to be injected is put into a syringe, the needle of the syringe is inserted into the elastic member 56, and the medicine 67 is injected from the discharge hole 58. The thin film reservoir 61b swells as the drug 67 is injected. Even after the injection is completed and the syringe is removed, the watertightness is maintained by the elastic member 56 and the medicine 67 does not leak outside. In this way, the three thin film reservoirs 6 are inserted through the elastic members 55, 56, 57 and the discharge holes 58, 59, 60.
3 types for 1a, 61b, 61c (the same type may be used)
The drug 67 is sequentially injected. Here, for example, a case where three kinds of drugs 67 are selectively administered to the stomach, one to the small intestine, and one to the large intestine will be described.

First, a medical capsule is orally administered. When the medical capsule reaches the stomach, it sends radio waves from outside the body.
When this is received by the receiving circuit 66 through the antenna 65, the first switch of the switching circuit 64 is turned on, and the voltage of the battery 63 is applied to the liquid crystal actuator 40 in an amount corresponding to 1/3 of the maximum. This causes the coil-shaped liquid crystal actuator 40 to rotate about its axis (see FIG. 5B).
(In the direction of the arrow).

Therefore, the rotary lid 51 rotates, and the communication hole 54 comes to be located on the discharge hole 58. Then, the thin film reservoir 61a itself contracts, and the drug 67 inside is released into the stomach.

Next, when the capsule reaches the small intestine, radio waves are sent from outside the body. This time, the second switch of the switching circuit 64 is turned on, the voltage of the battery 63 is applied to the liquid crystal gel actuator 40 in an amount equivalent to 2/3 of the maximum, the rotary lid 51 is further rotated, and the communication hole 54 is released. It comes to be located on 59. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the drug 67 is released into the small intestine through the release hole 59 and the communication hole 54.
When the drug 67 is completely released, the thin film reservoir 61b is opened as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), it is in a contracted state. Similarly, in the large intestine, the third wave of the switching circuit 64 is also received by the electric wave from the outside of the body.
When the switch is turned on, the voltage of the battery 63 is applied to the liquid crystal gel actuator 40 in the maximum amount, and the rotary lid 51 is rotated so that the communication hole 54 is on the discharge hole 60, and the medicine is discharged. Since the elastic gel actuator 40 can be deformed in the circumferential direction in a small amount, the friction between the rotary lid 51 and the storage chamber 52 can be ignored.

Further, in addition to the effect of each of the above-described embodiments, the effect that several drugs can be sequentially administered at different sites can be obtained. Further, since the actuator has a coil shape, a space for the medicine storage chamber 52 is secured.

[0042]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the volume of the storage chamber is changed by the liquid crystal gel actuator, so that high heat and harmful gas are generated even when electricity is applied for a certain long time. Therefore, it is possible to provide a medical capsule that is safe for the human body and that can rapidly release a drug or collect body fluid at any time.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing a medical capsule of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a medical capsule of a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are sectional views showing a medical capsule of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an elastic gel actuator showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a cross-sectional view of the medical capsule of the above embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a front view of the medical capsule of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the medical capsule of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 27, 52 ... Storage chamber, 3, 20, 40 ... Liquid crystal gel actuator, 8, 15, 31, 64 ... Switching circuit.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Mitsuru Nagayoshi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A medical capsule having a storage chamber for storing a drug, a body fluid, etc., and a means for changing the volume of the storage chamber, wherein the means for changing the volume of the storage chamber is a liquid crystal gel actuator and the liquid crystal. A medical capsule comprising a means for controlling the operation of a gel actuator.