Capsule endoscope

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a capsule endoscope, which aims to solve the problems of severe image distortion and poor imaging quality in the prior art. The capsule endoscope comprises: a housing, which forms a cavity; an end cover, which is located at one end of the housing and connected to the housing; an image acquisition unit, which is located in the cavity and used for acquiring an image, and which comprises a first circuit board and a lens located on the first circuit board; an illumination unit, which is located in the cavity and used for providing illumination light; and a power supply unit, which is located in the cavity and used for supplying power to the image acquisition unit and the illumination unit. The end cover is a flat-head end cover; the inner side of the end cover is further provided with a light-shielding tube which extends towards the housing, the light-shielding tube being used for blocking illumination light emitted by the illumination unit and directed from the inside of the cavity to the lens. The present capsule endoscope enables effective absorption of stray light that affects imaging, thereby reducing image distortion, improving the imaging quality and enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio.

Description

Capsule endoscopy

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application claims priority to a Chinese invention application with application date of July 3, 2023, application number 202310808622.6, and title “Capsule Endoscope”, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract of the above-mentioned Chinese invention application. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical equipment, and in particular to a capsule endoscope. Background Art

[0004] A capsule endoscope is a medical device designed to examine the digestive tract. It can be inserted into the body to examine the health of the stomach, intestines, and esophagus, helping doctors diagnose digestive tract diseases.

[0005] The focus of capsule endoscopy is the acquisition of images of internal organs. Since the quality of these images can directly impact a doctor's diagnosis of a patient, very high standards are placed on the quality of these images. Traditional capsule endoscopes are single-use products, most of which use a built-in lens within a transparent optical dome. Images of the interior of the digestive tract are captured using LED lighting. Traditional transparent optical domes inevitably experience light refraction and reflection, which can cause distortion in images captured by the lens. Furthermore, the light emitted by LED lighting is scattered, and after reflection and scattering within the capsule, it strikes the flat glass of the lens. During imaging, the light from this glass enters the lens, causing a ring-shaped halo to appear in the final captured image, affecting image quality. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a capsule endoscope, which can effectively absorb stray light that affects imaging, reduce image distortion, improve imaging quality, and increase signal-to-noise ratio through the design of various components.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a capsule endoscope, comprising: a shell forming a cavity; an end cover located at one end of the shell and connected to the shell; an image acquisition unit located in the cavity, for acquiring images, comprising a first circuit board and a lens located on the first circuit board; an illumination unit located in the cavity, for providing illumination light; a power supply unit located in the cavity, for supplying power to the image acquisition unit and the illumination unit; wherein the end cover is a flat-head end cover, and the inner side of the end cover also has a light-shielding tube extending toward the shell, and the light-shielding tube is used to block the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit from the cavity to the lens.

[0008] Preferably, the light-shielding tube comprises a step structure and a first sleeve, and the step structure divides the top surface of the end cover into a light inlet window and a light outlet window surrounding the light inlet window.

[0009] Preferably, the light entrance window has a through hole, a lens is provided at the through hole, and the lens is embedded in the step structure to block the through hole.

[0010] Preferably, the lens is bonded to the step structure, and the upper surface of the lens is not higher than the outer surface of the end cap.

[0011] Preferably, at least one side of the lens is provided with a coating.

[0012] Preferably, the area of ​​the light exit window is not greater than 6 times the area of ​​the light entrance window.

[0013] Preferably, the thickness of the first sleeve is 0.2-0.5 mm, and the length of the first sleeve is 0.2-3.3 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the first circuit board is 0.3-3 mm.

[0015] Preferably, the lighting unit includes a second circuit board and a light source located on the second circuit board; the second circuit board is located above the first circuit board.

[0016] Preferably, a bracket is further provided between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and the distance between the first circuit board and the second circuit board is 3 mm.

[0017] Preferably, the lower end surface of the first sleeve is located below the second circuit board, and the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the second circuit board is not less than 0.5 mm.

[0018] Preferably, the lateral distance between the light source and the lens should satisfy the formula d 11 >d 12 *(h12 +h 13 +h 14 ) / h 11 , where d 12 is the lateral distance between the first sleeve and the lens, h 11 h is the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the upper end surface of the lens, 12 is the height of the lens, h 13 is the longitudinal distance between the light source and the first circuit board, h 14 is the distance between the light source and the inner side of the top surface of the end cover.

[0019] Preferably, the light exit window has a light-concentrating structure, and the light-concentrating structure is located on at least one of the outer side and the inner side of the top surface of the end cover.

[0020] Preferably, the light-concentrating structure is a curved surface, and the curvature of the curved surface is not less than 1.34.

[0021] Preferably, a second sleeve surrounding the lens and extending upward is further provided on the first circuit board, and the second sleeve and the first sleeve are staggered in the transverse direction and at least partially overlap in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] The present invention also provides a method for achieving multiple reuse of a capsule endoscope, comprising: before entering a living body, first placing a sealed protective cover on the outside of the capsule endoscope to form a capsule endoscope assembly; after the capsule endoscope assembly enters the living body and completes a single examination of the digestive tract, such as the esophagus and stomach, the capsule endoscope assembly is recovered; for the recovered capsule endoscope assembly, the capsule endoscope is removed from the protective cover, strictly cleaned and disinfected, and then a new sealed protective cover is placed on the outside of the cleaned and disinfected capsule endoscope to form a new capsule endoscope assembly. Repeating the aforementioned steps can achieve multiple reuse of the capsule endoscope.

[0023] The capsule endoscope provided by the present invention effectively absorbs illumination light propagating within the capsule by adding a light-shielding tube to the end cap, reducing its impact on the lens. The end cap and light-shielding tube can be integrally molded using color-separated injection molding, eliminating the need for additional processing steps during assembly and production, thereby improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the light-shielding tube includes a stepped structure that divides the optical surface of the end cap into a light-exit window and a light-inlet window. The light-inlet window can have a through-hole and a separate lens, enhancing both the light transmission performance and wear resistance of the light-inlet window. The light source is disposed on a second circuit board, positioned above the first circuit board. This, combined with the light-shielding tube, further enhances the light-shielding effect. The lens of the light-inlet window is embedded in the stepped structure and sealed with a sealant. The stepped structure and sealant are also made of opaque material to effectively absorb stray light, thereby improving image quality and signal-to-noise ratio. The capsule endoscope can be used with a protective cover, which can be recycled and replaced for reuse. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, for the sake of clarity, the various parts in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0025] FIG1 shows an exploded schematic diagram of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG2 shows a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of an end cap and a lens of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG3 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the combination of the end cover and the lens of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG4 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a capsule endoscope after the end cover and the lens are assembled according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of a capsule endoscope;

[0030] FIG6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of another capsule endoscope;

[0031] FIG7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of a capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of a capsule endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG10 shows a schematic diagram of the use of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Certain specific details are described in detail in the following detailed description of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to fully understand the present invention without these details. To avoid obscuring the essence of the present invention, well-known methods, processes, and procedures are not described in detail.

[0036] FIG1 shows an exploded schematic diagram of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The capsule endoscope 100 includes a housing 110, an end cap 120, an image acquisition unit 130, an illumination unit 140, and a power supply unit 150. The housing 110 forms a cavity to accommodate various components. The end cap 120 is, for example, a transparent flat end cap, with a lens 122 disposed at the position of the central through hole. The lens 122 fills the through hole to achieve a seal. The inner side of the end cap 120 also includes a sleeve surrounding the through hole and extending axially toward the housing 110 (the sleeve is obscured due to the angle of the diagram and is not shown). By connecting the end cap 120 to the housing 110, the housing 110 and the inner cavity of the end cap 120 are sealed. The image acquisition unit 130, the illumination unit 140, and the power supply unit 150 are all located in the cavity.

[0037] Since the lens 122 in this embodiment is independent of the end cap 120, the material of the lens 122 can be selected from sapphire glass with better optical performance and greater wear resistance. Furthermore, at least one side of the lens 122 can be coated to form a coating on at least one side of the lens 122 to enhance light transmittance and improve its optical performance. Of course, the lens 122 can also be omitted as a separate device. The end cap 120 can be designed without a through hole and can be a flat head with a closed front end. The top surface of the end cap 120 is transparent to facilitate illumination by the lighting unit 140 and image acquisition by the image acquisition unit 130.

[0038] The image acquisition unit 130 includes a first circuit board 131 and a lens 132 located on the first circuit board 131. The first circuit board 131 is, for example, circular, and the lens 132 is, for example, located in the middle of the first circuit board 131, with the lens 132 facing the lens 122. The lighting unit 140 includes a second circuit board 141 and a light source 142 located on the second circuit board 141. The second circuit board 141 is, for example, annular, and the light sources 142 are, for example, multiple, and the multiple light sources 142 are arranged in a circular array on the second circuit board 141. The light sources 142 are, for example, LED light sources. The power supply unit 150 includes, for example, a battery for powering the components inside the capsule endoscope. Of course, the capsule endoscope may also include modules such as a magnetic unit and a communication unit, as well as connecting wires between the internal circuit boards and batteries, etc., which are not the focus of this application and are therefore omitted in the figure.

[0039] FIG2 shows a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the end cap and lens of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention; the top surface of the end cap 120 is, for example, an optical surface, which is a plane. The end cap 120 has a circular through hole in the middle, and a first light-shielding tube 121 is arranged around the through hole and extends inward along the axis of the end cap 120. The first light-shielding tube 121 includes a first sleeve 1211 and a step structure 1212. The step structure 1212 divides the top surface of the end cap 120 into a central light inlet window 125 and an outer light outlet window 124. The light inlet window 125 is, for example, circular, and the light outlet window 124 is, for example, annular, surrounding the light inlet window 125. Specifically, in order to achieve a better imaging effect and control the amount of light output and light input, the area of ​​the light outlet window 124 is, for example, not greater than 6 times the area of ​​the light inlet window 125. The light inlet window 125 is provided with a lens 122, and the lens 122 is embedded in the top surface of the end cover 120 through the step structure 1212. The lens 122 is bonded to the step structure 1212 to achieve the sealing of the top surface of the end cover 120. Specifically, there is a gap 123 between the side of the lens 122 and the step structure 1212, that is, the diameter of the lens 122 is smaller than the diameter of the edge of the bearing surface of the corresponding step structure 1212. Specifically, the width of the gap 123 is, for example, 0.2 mm, and the side of the step structure 1212 facing the lens 122 is, for example, a slope to facilitate the installation of the lens 122, and the length of the slope is, for example, 0.5 mm.

[0040] In the actual manufacturing process, the end cover 120 and the first light-shielding tube 121 are integrally formed, for example, through a two-color injection molding process, without adding additional processes. The first light-shielding sleeve 121 can be made of non-light-transmitting materials. Specifically, the color of the first light-shielding sleeve 121 is dark to better achieve the light-shielding effect.

[0041] FIG3 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the combined end cap and lens of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A sealant 126 is filled in the gap 123, and the lens 122 is bonded to the step structure 1212 by the sealant 126, thereby achieving a seal on the top surface of the end cap 120. Specifically, the sealant 126 is, for example, an epoxy adhesive mixed with carbon powder, so that the sealant 126 also has a partial light-shielding function. Of course, the sealant 126 can also be other types of opaque sealants to achieve a similar effect. Furthermore, to ensure a good sealing effect, the thickness h1 of the sealant 126 filling the gap 123 is, for example, no less than 0.1 mm and does not exceed the top surface of the end cap 120. Since the step structure 1212 supports the lens 122, the thickness h2 of the supporting bottom surface of the step structure 1212 is, for example, 0.1 mm to ensure its strength. The height h3 of the first sleeve 1211 below the step structure 1212 is, for example, 0.2-3.3 mm, and the thickness d1 is, for example, 0.2-0.5 mm.

[0042] FIG4 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the combined end cap and lens of a capsule endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention; the end cap 120 of this embodiment is similar to that of FIG3 , and the same parts are not repeated here. The difference between this embodiment and FIG3 is that the light exit window 124 of the end cap 120 has a focusing design. Specifically, the focusing design is, for example, a circular arc surface 1241 facing the middle area, and the curvature of the arc surface 1241 is, for example, not less than 1.34. Of course, in order to ensure the uniformity of light output, a structure similar to frosted glass can also be provided to make the light emitted from the light exit window 124 more uniform. Taking into account possible external wear and tear, in order to reduce the impact of wear and tear, the arc surface 1241 is, for example, located on the inner side of the light exit window 124 of the end cap 120. Of course, focusing structures such as arc surfaces can be provided on both the inner and outer sides.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of a capsule endoscope. To reduce the amount of illumination light emitted by light source 142 that is directed toward lens 132 within the capsule, thereby affecting the image quality captured by lens 132, a first sleeve 1211 surrounding lens 132 on end cap 120 extends toward the lens until it connects to first circuit board 131, where lens 132 resides, forming an isolation cavity. This isolates lens 132 from light source 142 within the capsule. However, since light source 142 typically utilizes an LED, it generates a significant amount of heat during illumination, which in turn causes the volume of the isolation cavity within which light source 142 resides to expand. This can cause deformation of first circuit board 131 and first sleeve 1211, and may even affect the seal between end cap 120 and housing 110.

[0044] In order to avoid a large amount of heat accumulation in a smaller cavity, causing the cavity to expand and deform and affect the capsule endoscope, Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the front end of another capsule endoscope. Compared with the capsule endoscope in Figure 5, the first sleeve 1211 of this capsule endoscope does not extend to connect with the first circuit board 131. A certain distance is retained between the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 and the first circuit board 131, so that the light source 142 is connected to the space where the lens 132 is located, thereby preventing heat from accumulating only near the light source 142. However, due to the existence of this distance, the illumination light emitted by the light source 142 located on the first circuit board 131 can still pass through this distance inside the capsule to the area where the lens 132 is located, thereby affecting the image quality captured by the lens 132.

[0045] FIG7 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the front end of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This first embodiment is similar to FIG6 , except that, in this first embodiment, a light source 142 is located on a second circuit board 141. The second circuit board 141 and the first circuit board 131 are supported by a bracket 160 disposed therebetween. A certain distance, for example, 3 mm, is provided between the second circuit board 141 and the first circuit board 131. By arranging the light source 142 on the second circuit board 141 above the first circuit board 131, the height of the light source 142 relative to the lens 132 and the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 is raised. This effectively reduces the effect of the illumination light emitted by the light source 142 on the lens 132 within the capsule through the distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 and the first circuit board 131. Furthermore, raising the height of the light source 142 allows the light source 142 to be closer to the top surface of the end cap 120, and thus closer to the target area, enhancing the illumination effect of the light source 142.

[0046] In the first embodiment, by raising the height of the light source 142 and combining it with the first sleeve 1211 surrounding the lens 132, a good light shielding effect is achieved, which effectively reduces the impact of the illumination light emitted by the light source 142 on the lens 132 when propagating within the capsule. Specifically, to achieve a better light shielding effect, the light source 142 is regarded as a point light source, and the size and position relationship between its various components should satisfy the following formula:

[0047] d 11 >d 12 *(h 12 +h 13 +h 14 ) / h 11 ;

[0048] Among them, d 11 is the lateral distance between the light source 142 and the lens 132; d 12 is the horizontal distance between the first sleeve 1211 and the lens 132, h11 h is the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 and the top surface of the lens 132, 12 is the height of the lens 132, h 13 is the distance between the light source 142 and the first circuit board 131, h 14 is the longitudinal distance between the light source 132 and the top surface of the end cover 120 .

[0049] Specifically, the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 should be lower than the second circuit board 141, and the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 and the second circuit board 141 should be no less than 0.5 mm. The diameter of the first sleeve 1211 should be slightly larger than the diameter of the lens 132 and smaller than the diameter of the central opening of the second circuit board 141. During use, the first sleeve 1211 and the stepped structure 1212 of the light-shielding tube 121 absorb light from within the capsule that could affect imaging, ensuring that the captured light is directed from the outside toward the lens 132, significantly reducing light interference within the capsule and achieving excellent imaging quality.

[0050] FIG8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention; as shown in FIG8 , the power supply unit 150 is, for example, located in the housing 110 and connected to the first circuit board 131. The first circuit board 131 and the second circuit board 141 can be connected via a cable. The lens 122 is arranged concentrically and coaxially with the lens 132. The diameter of the lens 122 is larger than the diameter of the lens 132, and the diameter difference is approximately 1 to 2.6 mm. The height difference H1 between the lens 132 and the step structure 1212 is, for example, 0.1 mm. Since the height of the lens 132 fluctuates within a standard range when focusing, a certain distance is retained between the lens 132 and the step structure 1212 to meet the changes in the focusing of the lens 132 and the requirements of assembly. Furthermore, the distance H2 between the top surface of the lens 132 and the outer surface of the top surface of the end cap 120 is, for example, 1 mm, and the viewing angle α of the lens 132 is, for example, 120°. External light outside the viewing angle range that is refracted through the end cap 120 and enters the lens 132 can be absorbed by the step structure 1212 and the sealant 126, which is beneficial to improving the imaging quality. The radius of the end cap 120 is, for example, 4.5 mm, and the radius of the light entrance window is, for example, 1.73 mm. During assembly, the first sleeve 1211 of the end cap 120 passes through the gap between the lens 132 and the second circuit board 141, and the end cap 120 and the housing 110 can be directly assembled by dispensing without the need for additional processes.

[0051] Figure 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the front end of a capsule endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment, based on the first embodiment, adds a second sleeve 133 surrounding the lens 132 on the first circuit board 131. The second sleeve 133 is located between the first sleeve 1211 and the lens 132. The second sleeve 133 at least partially overlaps with the first sleeve 1211 in the longitudinal direction, for example, to absorb illumination light that passes between the first sleeve 1211 and the first circuit board 131, thereby achieving a better light-shielding effect.

[0052] Specifically, as shown in FIG9 , the dimensional relationship between the first sleeve 1211 and the second sleeve 133 should satisfy the following formula:

[0053] h 22 >(2d 21 +d1)*h 21 / d1;

[0054] Among them, h 22 is the height of the second sleeve 133, h 21 is the distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve 1211 and the first circuit board 131, d 21 is the lateral distance between the first sleeve 1211 and the second sleeve 133, and d1 is the thickness of the first sleeve 1211. Preferably, h 21 The value range is 0.3~3mm.

[0055] Of course, although the second sleeve 133 in Figure 9 is located on the inner side of the first sleeve 1211, the second sleeve 133 can also be set on the outer side of the first sleeve 1211 according to the situation, and the two can overlap in the longitudinal direction, which can also achieve a similar shading effect.

[0056] FIG10 shows a schematic diagram of the use of a capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a method for realizing multiple reuse of the capsule endoscope 100, comprising: before entering the body, first putting a sealed protective cover on the outside of the capsule endoscope 100 to form a capsule endoscope assembly; after the capsule endoscope assembly enters the body and completes a single examination of the digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach, the capsule endoscope assembly is recovered; for the recovered capsule endoscope assembly, the capsule endoscope 100 is removed from the protective cover, strictly cleaned and disinfected, and then a new sealed protective cover is re-applied on the outside of the cleaned and disinfected capsule endoscope 100 to form a new capsule endoscope assembly. Repeating the aforementioned steps can realize multiple reuse of the capsule endoscope.

[0057] Specifically, the protective cover includes a front shell 210 and a rubber sleeve 220. The front shell 210 is made of, for example, transparent plastic, resin, or other materials, and the rubber sleeve 220 is made of a non-toxic, stable material, such as biocompatible silicone, to ensure its safety. The front shell 210 is sleeved on the front end of the capsule endoscope 100, and the front shell 210 and the capsule endoscope 100 are connected in an interference fit manner. The outer side surface of the front shell 210 is also provided with an outwardly extending annular protrusion 211. After the front shell 210 and the capsule endoscope 100 are combined, the rubber sleeve 220 is sleeved from the rear end of the capsule endoscope 100 so that the opening area of ​​the rubber sleeve 220 covers the annular protrusion 211 of the front shell 210. The size of the opening area of ​​the rubber sleeve 220 is, for example, smaller than the diameter of the annular protrusion 211. Since the rubber sleeve 220 is elastic, the opening area of ​​the rubber sleeve 220 cooperates with the annular protrusion 211 to achieve complete sealing of the interior of the protective sleeve, which can better protect the capsule endoscope 100 from being contaminated by the external environment such as digestive tract mucus during use. After a single use is completed, the assembly can be recycled and the capsule endoscope 100 therein can be taken out; by replacing a new protective sleeve, the capsule endoscope 100 can be reused.

[0058] The capsule endoscope provided by the present invention effectively absorbs illumination light propagating within the capsule by adding a light-shielding tube to the end cap, reducing its impact on the lens. The end cap and light-shielding tube can be integrally molded using color-separated injection molding, eliminating the need for additional processing steps during assembly and production, thereby improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the light-shielding tube includes a stepped structure that divides the optical surface of the end cap into a light-exit window and a light-inlet window. The light-inlet window can have a through-hole and a separate lens, enhancing both the light transmission performance and wear resistance of the light-inlet window. The light source is disposed on a second circuit board, positioned above the first circuit board. This, combined with the light-shielding tube, further enhances the light-shielding effect. The lens of the light-inlet window is embedded in the stepped structure and sealed with a sealant. The stepped structure and sealant are also made of opaque material to effectively absorb stray light, thereby improving image quality and signal-to-noise ratio. The capsule endoscope can be used with a protective cover, which can be recycled and replaced for reuse.

[0059] It should be noted that, in the description of the present invention, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to facilitate the description of different directions, parts, and components, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying a sequential relationship, relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features.

[0060] The foregoing description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are intended to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A capsule endoscope, characterized in that: include: a shell, forming a cavity; An end cover, located at one end of the shell and connected to the shell; An image acquisition unit, located in the cavity and used for acquiring images, comprises a first circuit board and a lens located on the first circuit board; an illumination unit, located in the cavity and used for providing illumination light; A power supply unit, located in the cavity, for supplying power to the image acquisition unit and the lighting unit; The end cover is a flat end cover, and the inner side of the end cover is also provided with a light-shielding tube extending toward the shell, and the light-shielding tube is used to block the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit to the lens from the cavity.

2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light-shielding tube comprises a step structure and a first sleeve, wherein the step structure divides the top surface of the end cover into a light inlet window and a light outlet window surrounding the light inlet window.

3. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The light entrance window has a through hole, a lens is arranged at the through hole, and the lens is embedded in the step structure to block the through hole.

4. The capsule endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lens is bonded to the step structure, and the upper surface of the lens is not higher than the outer surface of the end cap.

5. The capsule endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least one side of the lens is provided with a coating.

6. The capsule endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that: The area of ​​the light exit window is not greater than 6 times the area of ​​the light entrance window.

7. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The thickness of the first sleeve is 0.2-0.5 mm, and the length of the first sleeve is 0.2-3.3 mm.

8. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the first circuit board is 0.3-3 mm.

9. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lighting unit includes a second circuit board and a light source located on the second circuit board; the second circuit board is located above the first circuit board.

10. The capsule endoscope according to claim 9, characterized in that: A bracket is further arranged between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and the distance between the first circuit board and the second circuit board is 3 mm.

11. The capsule endoscope according to claim 9, characterized in that: The lower end surface of the first sleeve is located below the second circuit board, and the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the second circuit board is not less than 0.5 mm.

12. The capsule endoscope according to claim 9, characterized in that: The lateral distance between the light source and the lens should satisfy the formula d 11 >d 12 *(h 12 +h 13 +h 14 ) / h 11 , where d 12 is the lateral distance between the first sleeve and the lens, h 11 h is the longitudinal distance between the lower end surface of the first sleeve and the upper end surface of the lens, 12 is the height of the lens, h 13 is the longitudinal distance between the light source and the first circuit board, h 14 is the distance between the light source and the inner side of the top surface of the end cover.

13. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The light exit window has a light focusing structure, and the light focusing structure is located on at least one of the outer side and the inner side of the top surface of the end cover.

14. The capsule endoscope according to claim 13, characterized in that: The light-focusing structure is a curved surface, and the curvature of the curved surface is not less than 1.

34.

15. The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: A second sleeve is also disposed on the first circuit board and surrounds the lens and extends upward. The second sleeve is staggered with the first sleeve in the transverse direction and at least partially overlaps with the first sleeve in the longitudinal direction.

Images