Medical capsule containing activation circuitry

Abstract

To provide a medical capsule.SOLUTION: A medical capsule (1) including an electric circuit (2) and an internal power source (3) for selectively supplying the electric circuit (2) with electric energy provides at least photosensitive elements (4) for starting supplying the electric energy for the electric circuit (2) when an optical signal having prescribed strength is irradiated. The current invention is a system which includes the medical capsule (1) in a package (15) and an extracorporeal device (22) including a light source (23) for emitting a light beam so that the package (15) of the medical capsule (1) can be transparent with respect to prescribed strength.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical capsule including an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying electrical energy to the electrical circuit, and a system including the medical capsule within the package and an extracorporeal device including a light source for emitting a light beam. [Background technology]

[0002] Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding events are emergency situations requiring prompt endoscopic evaluation and treatment. When gastrointestinal bleeding is suspected, a patient swallows a medical capsule. The medical capsule includes an electrical circuit including a sensor, which is provided to detect information regarding the bleeding state. This information regarding the bleeding state is displayed, particularly by telemetry communication of the capsule with an external device / receiver. Therefore, a telemetry-based real-time internal bleeding sensor may be useful for timely diagnosis of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding events.

[0003] The present invention relates to a variety of medical and clinical modes of use and procedures, but is not limited to the modes / procedures of use described above.

[0004] Active medical devices, such as swallowed medical capsules, by definition include an energy source, most often a battery, and a functional part consisting primarily of electronics, including sensors and / or actuators designed to serve an intended medical purpose. In particular, devices intended to be used inside a patient's body, such as swallowable medical capsules and any kind of medical implant, must have a housing that protects the internal functional elements, including the power source, from unwanted interactions with the human body. For example, materials in contact with the body must be biocompatible to prevent any unwanted reactions from the body, such as intoxication or inflammation, and the housing must be tight to prevent bodily fluids from entering the device and interfering with / corroding the integrated components of the functional elements.

[0005] These requirements and circumstances, coupled with the limited amount of power stored in the internal power sources of active medical devices, place high demands on the activation of the devices. Mechanical switches, which operate on the principle of physical contact / non-contact between electrical conductors established by mechanical displacement of the parts of the mechanical switch, have the advantage of not conducting electricity in the off state, but pose a significant challenge to integrating such switches into the housing of the medical device in a way that meets the integrity and biocompatibility requirements outlined above.

[0006] Other non-mechanical solutions for activating medical devices that can be operated remotely and therefore integrated into the housing of the medical device without compromising its integrity and biocompatibility are state of the art.

[0007] For example, a reed switch can be operated by applying an external magnetic field. A drawback of integrating a reed switch into such a medical device is related to the fact that the reed switch is configured as normally open when miniaturized. Therefore, to activate such a medical device using an internal reed switch, it is necessary to either maintain the constant presence of a magnetic field to hold the reed switch in an ON state, or to add electronic circuitry that detects the ON state of the reed switch as a control signal and activates the internal circuitry. This electronic device requires standby current during power storage.

[0008] Another example of an activation principle is the use of current induction in an integrated coil or antenna, which requires additional specialized devices to generate the appropriate electric field to achieve energy transfer to the medical device, which further complicates application for the user and also requires electronics to detect the activation signal, which in turn requires standby current.

[0009] A further disadvantage of using the above-mentioned state-of-the-art methods is that the reed switch and the coil / antenna need to have a certain size in order to be responsive to an external field, and therefore the possibility of miniaturizing the medical device is limited by the size of the components required in these methods.

[0010] Since the electrical circuitry within the medical capsule is only powered by an integrated power source, the medical capsule needs to be activated just before the patient swallows it. Therefore, the energy supply is only available to a limited extent. In addition, for better hygiene, it is preferable for the patient to remove the capsule from its packaging themselves before swallowing it.

[0011] EP 0 460 327 A1 discloses a medical capsule having an outer cylinder and a piston movable within the outer cylinder, the piston being actuated by an externally applied signal to release a medication outside the capsule or to aspirate body fluids for sampling purposes, the capsule having remotely controllable means including a normally open reed switch which initiates activation of the medical capsule by connecting a power source to an activation means in response to an externally applied magnetic signal.

[0012] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 106823113 discloses a medical capsule device of the present invention which can be safely and reliably applied in the digestive tract of humans or animals to release agents at predetermined locations, can be easily activated, and provides a large pore area in its activated state, and can receive radio frequency signals upon radio frequency signal activation regardless of the orientation of the device in the digestive tract.

[0013] U.S. Patent No. 5,217,449 discloses a medical capsule having an outer cylinder and a piston movable within the outer cylinder, the piston being activated by an externally applied signal to release a medicine outside the capsule or aspirate a body fluid for sample collection, and a device for activating the medical capsule. The capsule has a remotely controllable means including a normally open reed switch that initiates activation of the medical capsule by connecting a power source to the activation means in response to an externally applied magnetic signal, thereby obtaining a simple medical capsule that operates with minimal power consumption without affecting the living body. The activation device has a pair of magnetic field generating units arranged side by side to generate magnetic field lines in various directions and form a magnetic field covering a wide area, thereby ensuring accurate activation of the medical capsule inside the living body.

[0014] A drawback of the known prior art is that the medical capsule already consumes the standby power required to detect / receive a signal to activate the medical capsule. This limits the shelf life of such devices, since the remaining power stored in the internal power reservoir must be sufficient to perform the intended purpose of the device. Such devices run the risk of being left with insufficient power due to power drain during periods of excess storage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 0460327 [Patent Document 2] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 106823113 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 5,217,449 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate or at least reduce the shortcomings and problems of the state of the art. A particular object of the present invention is to provide a fast and easy way for a user to activate a medical capsule, to provide a solution that is likely to be miniaturized by using highly miniaturizable components, and to eliminate standby power. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] This object is achieved by a medical capsule comprising the features of claim 1. Alternatively, dependent claim 2 can be used as an independent claim instead of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0018] The core of the present invention is a medical capsule comprising an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying electrical energy to the electrical circuit, wherein at least a photosensitive element is provided for initiating the supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when illuminated with a light signal having a predetermined intensity. That is, the medical capsule is activated only when the photosensitive element is exposed to the predetermined light signal. Activation of the medical capsule is accomplished by supplying energy to the electrical circuit from the internal energy source. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the activation depends on a predetermined wavelength instead of the light intensity.

[0019] This means that the above-mentioned object of the present invention is solved by an activation circuit in a medical capsule having an integrated power source and a photosensitive element. The photosensitive element allows an activation signal, in this case a light signal, to be received through the packaging of the medical capsule. Thus, a user can activate the medical capsule for a short period of time before it is swallowed by the patient. Preferably, the patient can open the packaging of the capsule themselves. This has the advantage that no one other than the patient who swallows the medical capsule can come into contact with the opened medical capsule.

[0020] This ensures that there is no bacterial or other contamination on the medical capsule from anything other than the patient, which also means that the patient will not feel uncomfortable swallowing the medical capsule if they remove it from the packaging before swallowing it.

[0021] Preferably, a circuit device is provided that includes the internal power supply, the photosensitive element, a switch driver, a switching element, and the electrical circuit. The power supply has a positive power conductor and a negative power conductor configured to provide a positive power supply voltage from a positive terminal and a negative power supply voltage from a negative terminal. The at least one photosensitive element is configured and arranged to output a driver control signal to the switch driver when the at least one photosensitive element is exposed to the light signal. The switch driver is configured and arranged to output a switch control signal to the switching element in the presence of a driver control signal from the at least one photosensitive element and / or a feedback control signal. The switching element is configured and arranged to switch to an on state when the switch control signal is applied, and the electrical circuit is configured and arranged to return the feedback control signal to the switch driver.

[0022] It should be noted that the photosensitive element includes a photosensitive portion for receiving a predetermined irradiation light, and hereinafter, only the photosensitive element in which the photosensitive portion is included for receiving the activation signal will be referred to.

[0023] That is, the photosensitive element is designed to output a driver control signal while the photosensitive portion of the photosensitive element is exposed to light. The driver is designed to control a switch when the driver control signal is present and / or when a feedback control signal is present. The switching element switches the positive power supply voltage when a switch control signal is present. Alternatively, it can switch between a ground power supply voltage, a negative power supply voltage, or both. When the switch is in an on state, power is supplied to the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may then output a feedback control signal to signal the switch driver to maintain the on state of the switch even when the photosensitive element is not exposed to light and does not output a driver control signal.

[0024] This means that an activation circuit is proposed which comprises at least one photosensitive element, one switch driver and one switching element. For activation, a light source is provided on the photosensitive part of said photosensitive element.

[0025] Furthermore, the photosensitive element, when connected between the positive and negative power conductors of the internal energy supply, is advantageously designed and provided in such a way that it consumes current only when exposed to external light, i.e. the photosensitive element is designed in such a way that it consumes substantially no current when not exposed to light, such as while the medical capsule is in its packaging.

[0026] The switch driver is preferably connected downstream of the photosensitive element and between the positive and negative power supply conductors, and is preferably designed and arranged in such a way that it only consumes current when the driver control signal and / or the feedback control signal are present, i.e., the switch driver is designed in such a way that it does not consume substantially any current when the driver control signal and / or the feedback control signal are absent.

[0027] Advantageously, the switching element is connected downstream of the switch driver in the positive power supply conductor and / or in the negative power supply conductor and only consumes current in the presence of the switch control signal, i.e. the switching element is designed in such a way that substantially no current flows in the absence of a switch control signal.

[0028] Preferably, the switching element is arranged and provided to apply a positively switched power supply voltage to the electrical circuit when switched to the on state, alternatively, the switching element is arranged and provided to apply a negatively switched power supply voltage to the electrical circuit when switched to the on state, or both.

[0029] Preferably, the electrical circuit outputs the feedback control signal to signal the switch driver to maintain the on state of the switching element even when the light on the photosensitive element is off.

[0030] Furthermore, the switch driver preferably comprises a feedback interface arranged and provided to receive the feedback control signal of the electrical circuit.

[0031] Preferably, the photosensitive element is a series circuit consisting of a photosensitive diode and a resistor, and the switch driver and the switching element are each formed by at least one MOSFET. In a preferred embodiment, the switch driver comprises an n-MOSFET and the switching element comprises a p-MOSFET.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the light-sensitive portion of the photosensitive element is a discrete semiconductor component, such as a photosensitive diode. This includes various types of photosensitive semiconductor components, such as photodiodes, phototransistors, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs allow current flow when exposed to light, and therefore can behave similarly to photosensitive elements. The advantage of using a photosensitive semiconductor component is that it does not allow substantial current flow when not exposed to any light, even when a voltage is applied. Therefore, the photosensitive semiconductor element can remain connected to the internal power source, so that it is connected to the voltage of the internal power source, but at the same time, consumes substantially no power unless exposed to external light. During storage of this medical device, the medical device is stored in at least one opaque package that is opened only when the device is about to be used. Therefore, the photosensitive element does not consume any power from the internal power source during storage of the device. In this preferred embodiment, the photosensitive element further includes at least one resistor that forms a series connection with the photosensitive portion between the positive power conductor and the negative power conductor of the internal power source. In this way, the current flowing through the photosensitive element between the positive and negative power conductors of the internal power supply when exposed to light must also flow through the resistor. This current flow through the resistor establishes a voltage according to Ohm's law. This voltage serves as the driver signal that is output by the photosensitive element to the switch driver.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the switch driver comprises a semiconductor component, preferably a field-effect transistor (FET) such as a MOSFET. A FET is designed to provide a conductive path for current between its drain and source terminals when an electric field created by a voltage is provided at its gate terminal. In the absence of such an electric field, the path between the drain and source terminals is substantially non-conductive. Thus, when this component is connected to the positive and negative power conductors of a power supply, substantially no current flows between the positive and negative power conductors in the absence of an electric field, but current flow is possible in the presence of an electric field. In this preferred embodiment, the FET is connected to both the positive and negative power conductors via series resistors designed to limit the current flow when an electric field is applied and to generate an appropriate switch control signal to control the switch.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the switch comprises a semiconductor component, preferably a FET such as a MOSFET. When an appropriate switch control signal is provided, the FET component is in its on state and provides a path for current flow and therefore power to the electrical circuitry of the device. In the absence of the switch control signal, the FET is in its off state and allows substantially no current to flow to the electrical circuitry of the device, thus substantially avoiding any current consumption in its off state.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the preferred embodiment described above and shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive element, the switch driver, and the switch with its internal components are connected to the positive and negative power supply conductors in such a way that any current flow between them must pass through a semiconductor device, which can be a photosensitive element such as a photodiode, phototransistor, or LED, or a field effect transistor (FET). These semiconductor components are designed and provided in such a way that they are in a non-conducting state in the absence of an activation signal. Such an activation signal can be exposure to external light, an electrical potential (voltage), or a current.

[0036] The present invention further relates to a system including a medical capsule according to any one of the above aspects in a package and an extracorporeal device including a light source for emitting a light beam, wherein the package of the medical capsule is configured and provided to be transmissive to the predetermined light intensity. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the package is transmissive only to a predetermined wavelength instead of the light intensity. Thus, the medical capsule is not activated by daylight and / or ambient light, but only by light of a certain intensity. This intensity value is selected in such a way that it is not reached under normal conditions, such as in open daylight, in an office space, a manufacturing room, a clean room, a doctor's office, a hospital, or the like, but is reached in close proximity to a light source that emits high-intensity light from a small area, such as an LED or a handheld flashlight. Thus, the medical capsule is not activated in normal daylight or ambient light, but only by light appropriately adjusted to a certain minimum predetermined light intensity and / or wavelength.

[0037] That is, for activation, the corresponding extracorporeal device comprises a light source and the packaging of the medical capsule is shaped in such a way that the photosensitive element is activated when the packaging comes into contact with the extracorporeal device.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the packaging is adapted to the shape of the extracorporeal device, and the packaging is configured and provided to position the extracorporeal device within exactly one predetermined position on the packaging. That is, the position of the photosensitive element corresponds to a known position of the medical capsule within the packaging. The packaging has a shape / contour that corresponds to the shape / contour of the extracorporeal device in a manner that physically fits within the single position that corresponds to the position of the best fit. The extracorporeal device includes a light source whose position corresponds to the position of the photosensitive element on the medical capsule inside the packaging when the packaging contacts the extracorporeal device within the single position of best fit.

[0039] It is an advantage if at least one guide element is formed in the packaging and is arranged to insert the extracorporeal device into the predetermined position of the packaging, i.e. for activation of the medical capsule the user holds the packaging on the extracorporeal device in the position of best fit and activates the light source using a control button.

[0040] Preferably, the at least one guide element is configured and arranged to guide a corner and a corresponding end of the extracorporeal device, and the medical capsule is positioned within the packaging such that when the extracorporeal device is inserted, the position of the light source within the end of the extracorporeal device coincides with the position of the photosensitive element of the medical capsule within the packaging.

[0041] Furthermore, it is preferred that the packaging includes two guide elements to define a guide track. Finally, the extracorporeal device is inserted into the guide track at its end where the light source is located. The second guide element also serves as a stopper and thus determines the exact position of the extracorporeal device relative to the medical capsule within the packaging. The corners therefore define the relative position in all three axes.

[0042] In particular, the medical capsule is activated by a control button on the extracorporeal device, which turns on the light source to activate the medical capsule via the photosensitive element, i.e., for activation, the corresponding extracorporeal device includes a light source, the packaging of the medical capsule is shaped in such a way that the packaging comes into contact with the extracorporeal device, and the light source is positioned in such a way that its light path follows the photosensitive element of the medical capsule.

[0043] After turning on the light source with a control button, current is supplied to the electrical circuit, thus activating the medical capsule. Thus, the circuitry, and therefore the medical capsule, does not consume energy from the internal power source until the circuitry is activated. This solution allows the user a fast and easy way to activate the medical capsule.

[0044] The control button of the extracorporeal device for activating the light source may be designed and provided as a hardware button integrated into the housing of the extracorporeal device or as a button on a touch screen incorporated in the extracorporeal device.

[0045] It should be expressly noted that the above aspects can solve the object of the present invention individually or in combination with each other, and therefore can be claimed individually or in any combination within the scope of this application. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] The present invention will now be described in detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a medical capsule according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 3 shows a circuit configuration incorporated in the medical capsule according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 shows the approximate size ratio of the extracorporeal device and the medical capsule relative to each other according to the present invention. [Figure 4]1 shows the system according to the present invention, including the medical capsule and the extracorporeal device in a package. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Figure 1 shows a medical capsule 1 according to the present invention. A circuit arrangement 5 is integrated into the medical capsule 1. The circuit arrangement 5 includes a photosensitive element 4 for activating the medical capsule 1. The medical capsule is supplied with electrical energy by an internal power source 3 (see Figure 2). An electrical circuit 2 (see Figure 2) is incorporated into the medical capsule 1 which needs to be activated in order to be used for the intended medical procedure.

[0048] 2 shows a circuit configuration 5 incorporated into the medical capsule 1 according to the present invention. The circuit configuration 5 includes the internal power source 3, the photosensitive element 4, a switch driver 6, a switching element 7 and the electrical circuit 2.

[0049] The power supply 3 is preferably a battery. The power supply 3 has a positive power conductor 8 and a negative power conductor 9. The positive power conductor 8 is configured to provide a positive power supply voltage from a positive terminal 10. The positive terminal 10 is defined as one port / connector of the power supply 3. The negative power conductor 9 is configured to provide a negative power supply voltage from a negative terminal 11. The negative terminal 11 is defined as one other port / connector of the power supply 3.

[0050] The photosensitive element 4 includes a photosensitive portion (not shown) and is configured and arranged to output a driver control signal 12 to the switch driver 6. The photosensitive element 4 is connected downstream of the power supply 3, which means that the photosensitive element 4 is connected to the positive power supply conductor 8 and the negative power supply conductor 9 and is in parallel with the power supply 3.

[0051] 2, the photosensitive element 4 includes a diode 18 as the photosensitive portion and a resistor 19 connected in series. The cathode of the diode 18 is connected to the positive power supply conductor 8. The anode of the diode 18 is connected to one end of the resistor 19, and the other end of the resistor 19 is connected to the negative power supply conductor 9.

[0052] The switch driver 6 is arranged and configured to output a switch control signal 14 to the switching element 7. The switch driver 6 is connected downstream of the power supply 3 and the photosensitive element 4. This means that the switch driver 6 is connected to the positive power supply conductor 8 and the negative power supply conductor 9 and is in parallel with the power supply 3 and the photosensitive element 4.

[0053] 2, the switch driver 6 includes an n-type MOSFET 20. The gate of the n-type MOSFET receives the driver control signal 12. When the driver control signal 12 is present, the switch driver 6 is capable of consuming electrical energy and outputting the switch control signal 14. The drain of the n-type MOSFET 20 is connected to a resistor and then to the positive power supply conductor 8. The source of the n-type MOSFET 20 is connected to a further resistor and then to the negative power supply conductor 9.

[0054] Furthermore, the switch driver 6 has a feedback interface 17 including another resistor. The feedback interface 17 is configured and arranged to receive a feedback control signal 13. The electrical circuit 2 to the feedback interface 17 of the switch driver 6 transmits the feedback control signal 13. The feedback interface 17 is connected to the gate of the n-type MOSFET 20.

[0055] The switching element 7 is configured and arranged to switch to an ON state when the switch control signal 14 is applied. The switching element 7 is connected in series with the switch driver 6 and the electrical circuit 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the switching element 7 includes a p-type MOSFET 21. A gate of the p-type MOSFET 21 receives the switch control signal 14. When the switch control signal is present, the switching element 7 can consume electrical energy and switch to the ON state. Switching to the ON state means supplying a switched positive power supply voltage 16 to the electrical circuit 2.

[0056] The electric circuit 2 is configured and arranged to return the feedback control signal 13 to the feedback interface 17 of the switch driver 6. This means that the electric circuit 2 is powered when the switching element 7 is in an ON state. The electric circuit 2 may output a feedback control signal 13 that is sent to the switch driver 6 to maintain the ON state of the switching element 7 even when the photosensitive element 4 is not exposed to light and does not output a driver control signal 12. In summary, it can be said that once the electric circuit 2 is activated, it will remain ON until the internal power source 3 is drained or the electric circuit 2 interrupts the feedback control signal 13.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an extracorporeal device 22 and the medical capsule 1 and their approximate size ratios relative to each other according to the present invention. The extracorporeal device 22 is a device such as a mobile phone or other device capable of transmitting and receiving data information. The extracorporeal device 22 comprises a light source 23 used to output a light signal to the photosensitive element 4 and a display 26. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the light source 23 is integrated in the end of the extracorporeal device 22. A control button 25, preferably as a touch button, is integrated in the display 26 (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, the extracorporeal device 22 comprises an on-button 27 for switching the extracorporeal device 22 on.

[0058] Figure 4 shows the system according to the present invention, comprising the medical capsule 1 and the extracorporeal device 22 in a package 15. On the left side of Figure 4, the package 15 with the medical capsule 1 is shown separately from the extracorporeal device 22. On the right side of Figure 4, the package 15 with the medical capsule 1 is shown with the extracorporeal device 22 inserted.

[0059] The packaging 15 has a shape / contour corresponding to the shape / contour of the extracorporeal device 22. The surface of the packaging 15 of the medical capsule 1 is configured and provided to be permeable to the predetermined intensity. Alternatively, the packaging 15 may be permeable only to a predetermined wavelength instead of the light intensity. Thus, the medical capsule 1 is not activated by daylight and / or ambient light, but only by light that reaches the predetermined light intensity, preferably suitably regulated by the packaging 15. The light source 23 is configured and provided to transmit light through the packaging 15 at that intensity to reach and activate the photosensitive element 4 of the medical capsule 1.

[0060] The packaging 15 includes at least one guide element 24. The at least one guide element 24 is configured and provided to guide the end of the extracorporeal device 22. Preferably, the at least one guide element 24 forms a guide track. The guide track is constructed by the two guide elements 24. Furthermore, the second guide element 24 is configured and provided to act as a stopper 28. Preferably, the second guide element 24 is provided in the lower part of the packaging 15. Thus, the second guide element 24 is designed to stop the inserted extracorporeal device 22 at the predetermined position.

[0061] The guide elements 24 are designed as inclined ridges 28 on the packaging 15. Thus, there are flat inclined sections that serve to smoothly insert the extracorporeal device 22. If the light source 23 is in the left end of the extracorporeal device 22, it is preferable to place the flat inclined section on the right half of the packaging 15. On the left side of the packaging 15, the guide elements 24 each have a steeply inclined ridge section 20 that forms the edge on which the end of the extracorporeal device 22 is placed. This means that the end of the extracorporeal device comes into contact with the medical capsule 1 in the packaging 15. In other words, the medical capsule 1 is part of the guide track.

[0062] The extracorporeal device 22 according to FIG. 3 shows the display 26 and the control button 25 within the display 26 for activating the light source 23 .

[0063] Thus, the shape of the packaging 15 is adapted to the shape of the extracorporeal device 22, and the packaging 15 is configured and provided to position the extracorporeal device 22 exactly in one predetermined position on the packaging 15 as shown on the right side of Fig. 5. The at least one guide element 24 is configured and provided to guide the end of the extracorporeal device 22, and the medical capsule 1 is placed in the packaging 15 such that when the extracorporeal device 22 is inserted, the position of the light source 23 in the end of the extracorporeal device 22 coincides with the position of the photosensitive element 4 of the medical capsule 1 in the packaging 15.

[0064] In summary, the medical capsule 1 is configured to switch on the light source 23 by means of a control button 25 on the display 26 of the extracorporeal device 22 in order to activate the medical capsule 1 via the photosensitive element 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Medical Capsule 2 Electrical Circuits 3 Power supply 4 Photosensitive element 5 Circuit configuration 6 Switch driver 7 Switching Elements 8 Positive power supply voltage 9 Negative power supply voltage 10 Positive terminal 11 negative terminal 12 Driver control signal 13 Feedback Control Signal 14 Switch control signal 15 Packaging 16 Switched Positive Supply Voltage 17 Feedback Interface 18 Diode 19 Resistor 20 n-type MOSFETs 21 p-type MOSFET 22 Extracorporeal Devices 23 Light source 24 Guidance Elements 25 control buttons 26 Display 27 On-Button 28 Stopper 29 Flat Inclined Section 30 Steep Upward Section

Claims

1. 1. A medical capsule including an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying electrical energy to said electrical circuit, A switching element; a switch driver connected to the electrical circuit; at least one photosensitive element configured to output a driver control signal to the switch driver to initiate the supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when illuminated with a light signal having a predetermined intensity; a feedback control signal configured to be output by the electrical circuit to the switch driver, the switch driver configured to maintain a supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when the feedback control signal is present, even when the photosensitive element is not exposed to light and does not output the driver control signal; the switch driver includes at least one field effect transistor and a feedback interface configured and arranged to receive the feedback control signal of the electrical circuit; The switch driver further comprises at least two resistors, the drain of the at least one field effect transistor being connected to a positive power conductor of the internal power supply via a first resistor, and the source of the at least one field effect transistor being connected to a negative power conductor of the internal power supply via a second resistor.

2. a circuit configuration is provided that includes the internal power source, the photosensitive element, the switch driver, the switching element, and the electrical circuit; the power supply having a positive power conductor and a negative power conductor configured to provide a positive power supply voltage from a positive terminal and a negative power supply voltage from a negative terminal; the at least one photosensitive element is configured to output a driver control signal to the switch driver when the at least one photosensitive element is exposed to the light signal; The switch driver is (i) when the at least one photosensitive element is exposed to the light signal; and / or (ii) if said feedback control signal is present, configured and arranged to output a switch control signal to the switching element; the switching element is configured and arranged to switch to an on state when the switch control signal is applied; and The electrical circuit is configured and provided to return the feedback control signal to the switch driver.

2. The medical capsule according to claim 1.

3. 3. The medical capsule of claim 2, wherein the photosensitive element is connected between the positive and negative power supply conductors, but consumes current only when (i) or (ii) occurs.

4. 4. The medical capsule of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the switch driver is connected downstream of the photosensitive element and between the positive and negative power supply conductors, but consumes current only when the driver control signal is present.

5. 5. The medical capsule of claim 2, wherein the switching element is connected downstream of the switch driver in the positive power supply conductor or the negative power supply conductor and consumes current only when the switch control signal is present.

6. 6. The medical capsule of claim 5, wherein the switching element is configured and arranged to apply a switched positive power supply voltage to the electrical circuit when switched to the on state.

7. 6. The medical capsule of claim 5, wherein the switching element is configured and arranged to apply a switched negative power supply voltage to the electrical circuit when switched to the on state.

8. 8. The medical capsule of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit outputs the feedback control signal to signal the switch driver to maintain the on state of the switching element even when the photosensitive element is not exposed to light and does not output the driver control signal.

9. 9. A medical capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the photosensitive element is a series circuit consisting of a diode and a resistor, and the switching element is formed by at least one field effect transistor.

10. 10. A system comprising the medical capsule of any one of claims 1 to 9 in a packaging and an extracorporeal device comprising a light source for emitting a light beam, wherein the packaging of the medical capsule is configured and arranged to be opaque and to be transmissive only to the predetermined intensity of the light beam of the light source.

11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the shape of the packaging is adapted to the shape of the extracorporeal device, and the packaging is configured and provided to position the extracorporeal device within exactly one predetermined location on the packaging.

12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one guide element is formed within the packaging and configured to guide the extracorporeal device into the predetermined location of the packaging.

13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one guide element is configured and arranged to guide an end of the extracorporeal device, and the medical capsule is positioned within the packaging such that, when the extracorporeal device is inserted, a position of the light source within the end of the extracorporeal device corresponds to a position of the photosensitive element of the medical capsule within the packaging.

14. 14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the medical capsule is configured to turn on the light source to activate the medical capsule via the photosensitive element by a control button on a display of the extracorporeal device.

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