Sampling Capsule and Sampling Capsule System

Abstract

The present invention provides a sampling capsule and a sampling capsule system, comprising: a housing having a sampling area therein, with a hollowed-out portion on the housing located in the sampling area, and a sampling port provided on the housing; a power unit disposed within the housing, with the inlet of the power unit communicating with the sampling port and the outlet of the power unit opening towards the sampling area; a flexible sampling chamber located in the sampling area and connected to the outlet of the power unit, with a sealing plug provided in the sampling chamber. When the sampling chamber is folded, the sealing plug seals the outlet of the power unit; when the sampling capsule is not sampling, the pressures on the two opposite sides of the sealing plug are in a balanced state. Even if the external pressure of the sampling capsule suddenly increases, the external liquid cannot enter the sampling chamber, which can ensure that the sampling capsule can pass the safety sealing test, ensure the purity of the collected digestive juice, and ensure the accuracy of the test results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, and particularly to a sampling capsule and a sampling capsule system. Background Art

[0002] The research on intestinal microecology and intestinal microorganisms has received increasing attention. The role of sampling capsules for gastrointestinal sampling has become more and more prominent. Sampling capsules can reach the digestive tract that is difficult to reach by other means, and at the same time cause almost no damage to the human body.

[0003] Currently, the sampling methods of sampling capsules mainly include two methods: passive collection and active collection. The principle of passive collection is that when the sampling capsule reaches a specific physiological site, the sampling pool is opened, and the liquid in the digestive tract is passively adsorbed by the adsorption material in the sampling pool. The main problems of this method are slow collection speed and inability to accurately control the collection area (such as distinguishing the duodenum, ileum, etc.).

[0004] Active collection relies on a certain power to generate suction to suck digestive fluid into the sampling capsule. Common methods include negative pressure collection, suction by a micro motor cooperating with a transmission mechanism, suction by a micro pump, etc. Among them, the negative pressure collection has a simple structure, but it is difficult to maintain the negative pressure. At the same time, it usually can only be collected once, and it is easy to collect air, resulting in a high failure rate. The scheme based on the suction of a micro motor cooperating with a transmission mechanism has a large volume and high power consumption. The sampling capsule based on the suction of a micro pump has significant advantages, such as small volume, low power consumption, controllable flow rate, and multiple collections. However, the micro pump has no obstacle in the forward conduction. That is, when the micro pump does not work, if the pressure at the inlet is increased, external substances are likely to enter the sampling chamber, causing pollution. At the same time, due to this shortcoming, it is difficult for the sampling capsule to pass the airtight safety test.

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to provide an improved sampling capsule and a sampling capsule system to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sampling capsule and a sampling capsule system.

[0007] To achieve the above invention purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A sampling capsule, comprising:

[0008] A housing, a sampling area is provided inside the housing, a hollow part is provided on the housing located in the sampling area, and a sampling port is provided on the housing;

[0009] A power unit, which is arranged inside the housing, and the inlet of the power unit is communicated with the sampling port, and the outlet of the power unit is open towards the sampling area;

[0010] The flexible sampling chamber is located within the sampling area and is connected to the outlet of the power unit. A sealing plug is provided within the sampling chamber, and when the sampling chamber is folded, the sealing plug seals the outlet of the power unit.

[0011] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, a plurality of the hollow portions are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the housing.

[0012] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the power unit is hermetically connected to the inner circumference of the housing, and the power unit and the housing located on the first side of the power unit enclose to form the sampling area.

[0013] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the power unit is a micro pump, and one-way valves are provided at both the inlet and outlet of the power unit.

[0014] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the sampling capsule further includes a holding member for maintaining the folded state of the flexible sampling chamber.

[0015] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, along the folding direction of the flexible sampling chamber, the holding member includes two magnetic members with different polarities respectively disposed at opposite ends of the flexible sampling chamber.

[0016] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, one of the two magnetic members is a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed therein, and the other is a magnet block. The magnetic particles are disposed at one end of the flexible sampling chamber away from the outlet of the power unit, and the magnet block is disposed on the side where the power unit is located.

[0017] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the sampling capsule further includes a detection unit for detecting the sampling amount of the flexible sampling chamber.

[0018] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the sampling capsule further includes a holding member for maintaining the folded state of the flexible sampling chamber. Along the folding direction of the flexible sampling chamber, the holding member includes two magnetic members with different polarities respectively disposed at opposite ends of the flexible sampling chamber; the detection unit is a magnetic sensor disposed between the two magnetic members.

[0019] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, through holes and waterproof and breathable membranes matching the through holes are provided on the flexible sampling chamber.

[0020] As a further improved technical solution of the present invention, the sampling capsule further includes a camera module, and the sampling port is located within the shooting area of the camera module.

[0021] To achieve the object of the above invention, the present invention further provides a sampling capsule system, including the above-mentioned sampling capsule and an external processing terminal cooperating with the sampling capsule.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: in the sampling capsule of the present invention, a hollowed-out portion is provided on the housing located in the sampling area, and a flexible sampling chamber communicating with the outlet of the power unit is provided in the sampling area. When the flexible sampling chamber is in a folded state, a sealing plug on the flexible sampling chamber seals the outlet. When the sampling capsule is not sampling, the flexible sampling chamber is in a folded state, so that the pressures on both sides of the sealing plug are in a balanced state. Therefore, even if the external pressure of the sampling capsule suddenly increases, the external liquid cannot enter the sampling chamber. Thus, it can be ensured that the sampling capsule can pass the safety sealing test, and the purity of the collected digestive juice can be ensured, and the accuracy of the test results can be guaranteed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the sampling capsule in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic internal structure diagram when the flexible sampling chamber in the sampling capsule shown is in a folded state.

[0025] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a schematic internal structure diagram when the flexible sampling chamber in the sampling capsule shown is in an unfolded state.

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the sampling capsule in the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 shown, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted, however, that these embodiments are not limitations on the present invention, and any equivalent transformation or substitution in function, method, or structure made by those of ordinary skill in the art according to these embodiments shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 shown, which is a schematic diagram of the sampling capsule 100 and its internal structure in the first embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that Figure 2 and Figure 3 in the schematic internal structure diagrams of the sampling capsule 100 shown, the components in the electrical area are omitted.

[0029] The sampling capsule 100 includes a housing 1. A sampling area 2 is provided inside the housing 1. The housing 1 located at the sampling area 2 has a hollowed-out part 11, enabling the inside and outside of the sampling area 2 to communicate with each other. The sampling area 2 is isolated from other areas inside the housing 1, which can prevent components in other areas from being contaminated by digestive fluid in the sampling area 2, resulting in the failure of the sampling capsule 100.

[0030] Specifically, the material of the housing 1 can follow the material of the housing 1 in the existing sampling capsule 100, or it can be designed separately. It can be understood that the material of the housing 1 only needs to have biocompatibility.

[0031] Furthermore, the housing 1 is composed of at least two parts spliced together to facilitate the installation of various structures inside the housing 1.

[0032] Specifically, at least the two parts can be connected to each other by connection methods such as threads, adhesives, and snap connections, which will not be elaborated here.

[0033] Furthermore, an electrical area 3 isolated from the sampling area 2 is also provided inside the housing 1. A battery (not shown), a main control chip (not shown), a camera module 4, a light source 5, a wireless communication component (not shown), etc. are provided in the electrical area 3. The structures of the battery, the main control chip, the camera module 4, the light source 5, and the wireless communication component and the communication connection relationships between them can all follow the structures of the battery, the main control chip, the camera module, and the wireless communication component in the existing sampling capsule 100 and the communication connection relationships between them, which will not be elaborated here.

[0034] The electrical area 3 and the sampling area 2 are located at opposite ends of the housing 1. The housing 1 at the end of the electrical area 3 is transparent, so that the camera module 4 can obtain images of the digestive tract outside the sampling capsule 100.

[0035] Furthermore, a sampling port 12 is provided on the housing 1. The sampling capsule 100 further includes a power unit 6 provided inside the housing 1 and a flexible sampling bin 7 provided inside the sampling area 2. The inlet of the power unit 6 is connected to the sampling port 12 to suck digestive fluid from the outside of the sampling capsule 100. The outlet of the power unit 6 faces the sampling area 2 and is open. The flexible sampling bin 7 is connected to the outlet. When the power unit 6 is started, it can suck the digestive fluid outside the sampling capsule 100 from the sampling port 12 into the flexible sampling bin 7.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sampling port 12 is provided at a position on the housing 1 corresponding to the power unit 6 to facilitate the connection between the sampling port 12 and the inlet of the power unit 6.

[0037] Please refer Figure 4 As shown, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the sampling port 12' is located within the shooting area of the imaging module 4, that is, the sampling port 12' is provided on the transparent housing 1, so that digestive juice can be collected in a visible state, improving the controllability and success rate of collection.

[0038] Except for the above differences, the second embodiment in the present invention is the same as the first embodiment, and will not be elaborated herein.

[0039] Further, in this embodiment, the power unit 6 is hermetically connected to the inner circumference of the housing 1. The power unit 6 and the housing 1 located on the first side of the power unit 6 enclose to form the sampling area 2, and the power unit 6 and the housing 1 located on the second side of the power unit 6 enclose to form the electrical area 3, so as to simplify the internal structure of the housing 1 and meet the requirement of miniaturization of the sampling capsule 100. Of course, it is not limited thereto. It can be understood that a partition fixed within the housing 1 can also be additionally provided within the housing 1, and the partition divides the housing 1 into the sampling area 2 and the electrical area 3. At this time, the power unit 6 can be directly fixed on the partition.

[0040] Further, one-way valves (not shown) are provided at both the inlet and outlet of the power unit 6, which can prevent the digestive juice in the flexible sampling chamber 7 from leaking through the power unit 6.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, the power unit 6 is a micro pump. Of course, it is not limited thereto.

[0042] Further, the plurality of hollow portions 11 are spaced apart and evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the housing 1. Of course, it is not limited thereto. It can be understood that the hollow portions 11 are arranged as long as the external pressure received by the flexible sampling chamber 7 is the same as the external pressure received by the sampling port 12.

[0043] The flexible sampling chamber 7 has a folded state and an unfolded state. When the sampling capsule 100 has not reached the digestive tract part to be collected, the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in the folded state; when the sampling capsule 100 reaches the digestive tract part to be collected and the power unit 6 is started, the power unit 6 pumps the gas / liquid outside the sampling capsule 100 into the sampling chamber, so that the flexible sampling chamber 7 is gradually unfolded to the unfolded state.

[0044] Specifically, the material of the flexible sampling chamber 7 is latex, so that the flexible sampling chamber 7 has good sealing performance and extensibility.

[0045] Further, a sealing plug 71 is provided in the flexible sampling chamber 7. When the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in a folded state, the sealing plug 71 seals the outlet. When the sampling capsule 100 is not sampling, the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in a folded state. At this time, if the external pressure of the sampling capsule 100 suddenly increases and the instantaneous pressure exceeds the pressure in the power unit 6 and the pressure in the flexible sampling chamber 7, such as when the external pressure is 2 to 4 atmospheres during a hermetic test, or when encountering a pressure fluctuation of 1 to 1.3 atmospheres in the intestine, etc., because the housing 1 located in the sampling area 2 has a hollow portion 11, therefore, the external pressure received by the flexible sampling chamber 7 is the same as the external pressure received by the sampling port 12. On the one hand, under the action of the external pressure, the external gas / liquid enters the power unit 6 from the sampling port 12, squeezing the channel space in the power unit 6 and increasing the pressure in the power unit 6; on the other hand, the flexible sampling chamber 7 is squeezed by the external pressure, and the sealing plug 71 presses against the outlet. After the pressure in the power unit 6 is balanced with the external pressure, the pressures on both sides of the sealing plug 71 are balanced, preventing the external liquid from entering the sampling chamber. Thus, it can be ensured that before the sampling capsule 100 samples, the sampling chamber will not be contaminated by the external liquid due to the increase in external pressure, enabling the sampling capsule 100 to pass the safety seal test, ensuring the purity of the collected digestive fluid, and ensuring the accuracy of the test results.

[0046] Further, the sampling capsule 100 further includes a holding member 8 for maintaining the flexible sampling chamber 7 in a folded state, so that before the sampling capsule 100 samples, the sealing plug 71 always seals the outlet, thereby preventing the sampling chamber from being contaminated by the external liquid due to the increase in external pressure, enabling the sampling capsule 100 to pass the safety seal test, ensuring the purity of the collected digestive fluid, and ensuring the accuracy of the test results.

[0047] In this embodiment, along the folding direction of the flexible sampling chamber 7, the holding member 8 includes two magnetic members with different polarities respectively disposed at opposite ends of the flexible sampling chamber 7, so as to keep the flexible sampling chamber 7 in a folded state by the attraction of the two magnetic members. After the power unit 6 is activated to pump the gas / liquid outside the sampling capsule 100 into the flexible sampling chamber 7, the flexible sampling chamber 7 gradually unfolds to an unfolded state against the suction force between the two magnetic members. Of course, this is not the only limit.

[0048] In a specific embodiment, one of the two magnetic members is a plurality of magnetic particles 81 arranged dispersedly, and the other is a magnet block 82. The magnetic particles 81 are arranged at one end of the flexible sampling chamber 7 away from the outlet, and the magnet block 82 is arranged on the side where the power unit 6 is located. The plurality of magnetic particles 81 arranged dispersedly at one end of the flexible sampling chamber 7 away from the outlet have a weak attraction force. Thus, the flexible sampling chamber 7 can be kept in a folded state before the sampling capsule 100 samples, and when the sampling capsule 100 samples, the flexible sampling chamber 7 can be easily unfolded to an unfolded state by overcoming the suction force between the two magnetic members.

[0049] Specifically, in the embodiment where the power unit 6 is hermetically connected to the housing 1, the magnet block 82 is arranged on the second side of the power unit 6.

[0050] Furthermore, the sampling capsule 100 further includes a detection unit 9 for detecting the collection amount of the flexible sampling chamber 7. The detection unit 9 is electrically connected to the main control chip, so that an external operator can estimate the collection amount of digestive juice, and after the flexible sampling chamber 7 is filled with digestive juice, the power unit 6 is controlled to stop.

[0051] Specifically, in the embodiment where the holding member 8 is a magnetic member, the detection unit 9 is a magnetic sensor arranged between the two magnetic members. The magnetic sensor senses the total magnetic field of the magnetic members and the ambient magnetic field. During the process that the flexible sampling chamber 7 is gradually filled with digestive juice and unfolds, the distance between the magnetic particles 81 and the magnet block 82 gradually increases, and the magnetic field intensity sensed by the magnetic sensor gradually weakens. Thus, the degree of unfolding of the flexible sampling chamber 7 can be estimated by the magnetic field intensity sensed by the magnetic sensor, and then the collection amount of digestive juice in the flexible sampling chamber 7 can be estimated.

[0052] Generally, the magnetic field information fed back by the magnetic sensor is obtained in an environment where the human body is in a static state and there is no strong magnetic field interference around, so as not to affect the measurement accuracy.

[0053] Specifically, in the embodiment where the power unit 6 is hermetically connected to the housing 1 and the magnet block 82 is arranged on the second side of the power unit 6, the magnetic sensor is fixed on the first side of the power unit 6.

[0054] Further, the flexible sampling chamber 7 is provided with a through hole (not labeled) and a waterproof and breathable membrane 72 that cooperates with the through hole. When the sampling capsule 100 starts sampling and the power unit 6 pumps the external gas / liquid into the flexible sampling chamber 7, causing the flexible sampling chamber 7 to gradually unfold, the gas entering the flexible sampling chamber 7 passes through the waterproof and breathable membrane 72 and escapes outside the flexible sampling chamber 7, so that only the liquid remains in the flexible sampling chamber 7. Therefore, after a period of time, the flexible sampling chamber 7 will be filled with liquid digestive juice.

[0055] When the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in the unfolded state, if it encounters intestinal pressure fluctuations, such as when the intestinal pressure increases, on the one hand, under the action of the external pressure, the external gas / liquid enters the power unit 6 from the sampling port 12, squeezing the channel space in the power unit 6, increasing the pressure inside the power unit 6; on the other hand, the external pressure squeezes the flexible sampling chamber 7, causing the flexible sampling chamber 7 to fold to a certain extent, reducing the volume of the flexible sampling chamber 7, increasing the pressure inside the flexible sampling chamber 7, balancing the pressure on both sides of the outlet, and preventing the external liquid from entering the flexible sampling chamber 7. That is, the digestive juice in the flexible sampling chamber 7 will not be contaminated due to external pressure fluctuations.

[0056] It can be understood that when the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in the unfolded state and encounters intestinal pressure fluctuations, if there is gas outside, the external gas will pass through the waterproof and breathable membrane 72 and enter the flexible sampling chamber 7, further increasing the pressure inside the flexible sampling chamber 7, preventing the external liquid from entering the flexible sampling chamber 7. That is, the digestive juice in the flexible sampling chamber 7 will not be contaminated due to external pressure fluctuations.

[0057] Further, the present invention also provides a sampling capsule system (not shown), including the above-mentioned sampling capsule 100 and an external processing terminal (not shown) that cooperates with the sampling capsule 100. Specifically, the external processing terminal is communicatively connected to the main control chip to control the working state of the sampling capsule 100. The structure of the sampling capsule 100 is as described above and will not be elaborated here.

[0058] The working process of the sampling capsule system in the present invention will be specifically described below:

[0059] After swallowing the sampling capsule 100, the camera module 4 transmits the images of the external digestive tract obtained to an external processing terminal. The external processing terminal analyzes the images of the external digestive tract obtained, and identifies the position of the digestive tract where the sampling capsule 100 is located through the human eye or computer vision algorithms. In addition, doctors or computer-related algorithms can also judge the existence of some lesions through the images of the external digestive tract, so as to determine whether sampling is needed. If sampling is needed, the external processing terminal sends an instruction to sample to the main control chip through the wireless communication component. After the sampling capsule 100 reaches the digestive tract part where sampling is needed, the main control chip controls the power unit 6 to start, pumps the digestive juice in the digestive tract into the flexible sampling chamber 7 from the sampling port 12, and after estimating that the flexible sampling chamber 7 is full of digestive juice, controls the power unit 6 to stop, and the sampling is completed.

[0060] After the sampling is completed, medical staff use devices such as syringes to pierce into the flexible sampling chamber 7 from the hollow part 11 for sampling, which is convenient for subsequent analysis and testing of the collected digestive juice.

[0061] Compared with the prior art, in the sampling capsule 100 of the present invention, a hollow part 11 is provided on the housing 1 located in the sampling area 2, and a flexible sampling chamber 7 communicated with the outlet of the power unit 6 is provided in the sampling area 2. When the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in a folded state, the sealing plug 71 on the flexible sampling chamber 7 seals the outlet. When the sampling capsule 100 is not sampling, the flexible sampling chamber 7 is in a folded state, so that the pressures on both sides of the sealing plug 71 can be in a balanced state, and the external liquid cannot enter the sampling chamber, thereby ensuring that before the sampling capsule 100 samples, the sampling chamber will not be contaminated by the external liquid due to the increase of the external pressure, enabling the sampling capsule 100 to pass the safety sealing test, ensuring the purity of the collected digestive juice, and ensuring the accuracy of the test results.

[0062] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to the embodiments, not each embodiment only contains an independent technical solution. This narrative way of the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0063] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of the feasible embodiments of the present invention, and they are not used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sampling capsule, characterized in that: Comprising: A housing having a sampling area therein, with a hollowed-out portion on the housing located in the sampling area, and a sampling port provided on the housing; A power unit disposed within the housing, with the inlet of the power unit communicating with the sampling port, and the outlet of the power unit opening towards the sampling area; A flexible sampling chamber located within the sampling area, and the flexible sampling chamber is connected to the outlet of the power unit. A sealing plug is provided within the sampling chamber. When the sampling chamber is folded, the sealing plug seals the outlet of the power unit.

2. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of the hollowed-out portions are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the housing.

3. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power unit is hermetically connected to the inner circumference of the housing, and the power unit and the housing located on the first side of the power unit enclose to form the sampling area.

4. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein: The power unit is a micro pump, and one-way valves are provided at both the inlet and the outlet of the power unit.

5. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein: The sampling capsule further includes a holding member for keeping the flexible sampling chamber folded.

6. The sampling capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that: Along the folding direction of the flexible sampling chamber, the holding member includes two magnetic members with different polarities respectively disposed at opposite ends of the flexible sampling chamber.

7. The sampling capsule according to claim 6, wherein: One of the two magnetic members is a plurality of magnet particles dispersed, and the other is a magnet block. The magnet particles are disposed at one end of the flexible sampling chamber away from the outlet of the power unit, and the magnet block is disposed on the side where the power unit is located.

8. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein: The sampling capsule further includes a detection unit for detecting the collection amount of the flexible sampling chamber.

9. The sampling capsule according to claim 8, wherein: The sampling capsule further includes a holding member for keeping the flexible sampling chamber folded. Along the folding direction of the flexible sampling chamber, the holding member includes two magnetic members with different polarities respectively disposed at opposite ends of the flexible sampling chamber; the detection unit is a magnetic sensor disposed between the two magnetic members.

10. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible sampling chamber is provided with a through hole and a waterproof and breathable film that cooperates with the through hole.

11. The sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein: The sampling capsule further includes a camera module, and the sampling port is located within the shooting area of the camera module.

12. A sampling capsule system, characterized in that: Comprising the sampling capsule according to any one of claims 1-11, and an external processing terminal that cooperates with the sampling capsule.

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