Magnetic Starter with Restriction Unit for Capsule Endoscope Power Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capsule endoscopes face issues with unreliable startup and power wastage due to premature activation before being swallowed, and existing starter mechanisms can fail to turn on/off the device reliably if rotated too quickly.
Innovation Solution
A power-supply starter apparatus with a magnetic body that controls a reed switch inside a container case, using a restriction unit to ensure the starter is inserted/removed in a specific direction, preventing rotation and ensuring reliable power switching through a toggle switching circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a reed switch is used to control power supply switching in a capsule endoscope, then the device can be turned on/off by external magnetic field, but the device may activate prematurely before being swallowed causing power wastage
Solution Approach 1:
A starter with a magnetic body is introduced as an intermediary tool to control the reed switch. The magnetic body in the starter applies a magnetic field to the reed switch when inserted, turning on the power supply only when the user intentionally inserts the starter, preventing premature activation and power wastage.
2Speed
If a starter is rotated quickly to turn on the capsule endoscope, then the operation is faster, but the reed switch may not be turned on/off correctly causing unreliable startup
Solution Approach 1:
The starter is designed with a rotating mechanism that allows controlled rotation to apply magnetic field to the reed switch. The rotation speed can be controlled to ensure proper switching, and the dynamic insertion/removal process enables both fast operation and reliable power switching by maintaining appropriate magnetic field exposure time.
3Reliability
If the capsule endoscope is kept in a package with a permanent magnet, then the device remains off during storage, but the device cannot be reliably turned on after removal due to magnetic field interference
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field control is segmented into two parts: the permanent magnet in the package for storage (keeping device off) and the magnetic body in the starter for activation (turning device on). This segmentation allows the device to be reliably controlled in both storage and operational states without interference.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable startup and shutdown of capsule-type medical devices, preventing power wastage by ensuring the reed switch is activated only when necessary, and maintaining a stable power supply state during use.
Implementation Method 1
a starter having a magnetic body to control switching of the power supply by applying a magnetic field generated by the magnetic body to the power switch of the capsule-type medical device
Data Source
AI summary
A power-supply starter apparatus for a capsule-type medical device that includes a container case internally retaining a capsule-type medical device having at least a intra-subject information acquiring unit and a power switch for switching power supply to each unit including the intra-subject information acquiring unit, and a starter that has a magnetic body and controls switching of the power supply by applying a magnetic field originating from the magnetic body to the power switch of the capsule-type medical device inside the container case, wherein the container case has an insertion/removal unit in which a space is formed where the magnetic body can be brought closer to the power switch and the starter is inserted/removed, and the insertion/removal unit and starter have a restriction unit for restricting rotation around an axis in an insertion/removal direction of the starter into/from the insertion/removal unit so that switching of the power supply is controlled only by an insertion/removal operation of the starter is provided.