An ingestible device includes a cylindrical capsule having a central axis defined therethrough, a proximal end portion, and an atraumatically shaped distal end portion. A propulsion unit is disposed at the proximal end portion of the capsule for effecting movement of the capsule within an in vivo environment.

Embodiments generally relate to propulsion tube units and propulsion devices for progressing instruments along passages, and associated methods of use. For example, the instruments may include, tools, sensors, probes and/or monitoring equipment for medical use (such as endoscopy) or industrial use (such as mining). In some embodiments, the propulsion device may comprise an elongate tube defining a channel configured to accommodate a liquid and a pressure actuator in communication with the channel. The pressure actuator may be configured to selectively adjust a pressure of the liquid in the channel to alternatingly: reduce the pressure to induce cavitation and form gas bubbles in the liquid; and increase the pressure to collapse some or all of the gas bubbles back into the liquid, thereby accelerating at least part of the liquid towards the first end of the tube and transferring momentum to the tube to progress the tube along the passage.

Some embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising an elongate flexible tube sized to be received within a tract and having a proximal end and a distal end; a drive mechanism coupled to the proximal end of the tube; and a liquid column extending from the proximal end to the distal end; wherein the drive mechanism is configured to cause movement of the liquid column within the tube to impart forward momentum to the tube and thereby promote advancement of at least the distal end of the tube within the tract when at least the distal end is received within a part of the tract.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling lateral movement of a medical capsule system. A capsule housing is configured to be inserted into an anatomical structure of a patient. The multichannel tether is coupled to a rear of the capsule and includes at least one liquid exhaust channel conveying liquid to the capsule housing. The plurality of liquid exhaust ports are positioned around an outer circumference of the capsule housing and each configured to controllably expel liquid laterally from the capsule housing at varying rates to affect lateral movement of the capsule housing.

The present invention discloses a capsule endoscope with specific gravity control. The capsule endoscope comprises a housing to enclose various components, an inflatable device attached to a first longitudinal end of the capsule unit and an enteric coated shell attached to the first longitudinal end of the capsule unit to enclose the inflatable device between the enteric coated shell and the capsule unit. The various components include a camera sub-system for capturing image frames. The inflatable device comprises an inflatable membrane and an effervescent formulation inside the inflatable membrane. The enteric coated shell fits tightly onto the first longitudinal end of the capsule unit to prevent body liquid from leaking into a space between the enteric coated shell and the capsule unit when the capsule unit travels in human gastrointestinal tract after being swallowed.

An insertion device includes a shape-variable tube elastically returning while the shape-variable tube bends at a tube bending radius of a tube radius boundary value or more, and a shaft rotating around a shaft axis inside the shape-variable tube so that the shaft transmits a driving force to drive a motion section from a first extending direction toward a second extending direction. The shaft elastically returns while the shaft bends at a shaft bending radius of a shaft radius boundary value or more, and rotates without being deformed while the elastic return is impossible when the shape-variable tube bends in an elastically returnable range.

The present invention provides a robotic locomotive device (1) that is capable of driving itself forwards and backwards, anchoring and steering itself whilst inside a tubular structure (200), for example, the human colon, or any structure comprising two opposing walls (202, 204). In this respect, the device is made up of two or three segments (102, 104, 106) covered in an elastic material and driven by an internal actuating mechanism. All of the segments (102, 104, 106) have a concertina configuration that enable a shortening and lengthening motion. As well as contracting and extending in length, at least one of the end segments (102, 106) is capable of bending at an angle away from the longitudinal axis such that it becomes wedged or jammed between the walls (202, 204) of the tubular structure (200). That is, the end segments (102, 106) are capable of both a bending action and a contracting and extending action. The device (1) moves by alternately jamming a segment (102, 104, 106) between the walls (202, 204) of the tubular structure (200), and then contracting or extending the segments (102, 104, 106) to inch the device (1) forward with a more effective locomotive action. As such, the present invention provides a simplified design that is more robust to harsh or unclean environments, whilst still maintaining the level of performance required from such a device.

Disclosed is a self-propelled soft robot body, including a tube which is internally and axially provided with a tube cavity, and at least one propelling structure, comprising a first driving unit, a second driving unit and a third driving unit, which are evenly fixed on a peripheral wall of the tube cavity, relative to an axis thereof, and along the axis of the tube; and the first driving unit, the second driving unit and the third driving unit are respectively telescopic along the axis of the tube; at least two support structures, with each two adjacent support structures having at least one propelling structure arranged therebetween, the support structures are fixedly connected with the propelling structure and arranged on the peripheral wall of the tube cavity.

A mobile capsule device 10 comprises a long capsule body 11 having a permanent magnet 13 movable in the lengthwise direction with respect to the long capsule body and a coil for driving the permanent magnet 13, while a propulsion force is generated entirely by applying an alternate current to the coil and performing back and forth movements of the permanent magnet 13. The coil has first and second coil parts 15 and 16 arranged circumferentially in front and back of the permanent magnet 13, and a frequency of an alternate current applied to the first and second coil parts 15 and 16 is made to accord with a resonance frequency of the capsule device 10 generated by a back and forth vibration of the permanent magnet 13. Thereby, a self-propelled, mobile capsule device 10 which is downsized, compact and efficient and a control method thereof can be provided.

The present invention discloses an endoscopic sleeve apparatus for mitigating propulsion-related epithelial tearing, said apparatus comprising: an elastomeric, pliable, and rotatable sleeve for encasing an elongated shaft member of an endoscope; any one of a right-turn or left-turn helical threading disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve from a proximal base of the endoscope and radially extending to a distal tip of the endoscope; a distal tip port opening configured for allowing at least one channel and, or lumen axially disposed within the elongated shaft member of the endoscope to be engaged to the distal tip port opening for release and, or capture of any agent; a proximal end housing comprising at least one motor coupled to at least one actuator gear, whereby said actuator is in operable communication to the rotatable sleeve via a sleeve-actuator junction seal; a finger-led control disposed on a surface of the proximal end housing and operably coupled to the motor and, or actuator gear for triggering rotational force; and wherein the rotational force caused by the motor and, or actuator gear drives axial rotation of the rotatable sleeve over the elongated shaft member of the endoscope via the sleeve-actuator junction seal, and thereby allowing for forward propulsion of the endoscope with epithelial tearing risk mitigation.