MEDICAL CAPSULE INCLUDING AN ACTIVATION CIRCUIT

Abstract

A medical capsule including an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying the electrical circuit with electrical energy, wherein at least a photosensitive element is provided for initiating a supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when a light signal having a predetermined intensity is irradiated and the invention related to a system comprising a medical capsule in a package, and an extracorporeal device including a light source for emitting a light beam, wherein the package of the medical capsule is adapted and provided to be permeable for the predetermined intensity.

Claims

1. A medical capsule including an electrical circuit and an internal power source for selectively supplying the electrical circuit with electrical energy, wherein at least a photosensitive element is provided for initiating a supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit when a light signal having a predetermined intensity is irradiated and the supply of electrical energy to the electrical circuit maintains, when a feedback control signal is present.

2. The medical capsule according to claim 1, wherein a circuit configuration is provided, which comprising the internal power source, the photosensitive element, a switch driver, a switching element and the electrical circuit is provided, wherein the power source has a positive supply conductor and a negative supply conductor, which are adapted to provide a positive supply voltage from a positive terminal and a negative supply voltage from a negative terminal, the at least one photosensitive element is adapted and provided to output a driver control signal to the switch driver, when (i) the at least one photosensitive element is exposed to the light signal, and/or (ii) a feedback control signal is present, the switch driver is adapted and provided to output a switch control signal to the switching element, the switching element is adapted and provided to switch into an ON-state when the switch control signal is applied, and the electrical circuit is adapted and provided to return the feedback control signal to the switch driver.

3. The medical capsule according to claim 2, wherein the photosensitive element is connected between the positive supply conductor and the negative supply conductor, but only has a current consumption when (i) or (ii) occurs.

4. The medical capsule according to claim 2, wherein the switch driver is connected downstream of the photosensitive element and is connected between the positive supply conductor and the negative supply conductor, but only has a current consumption when the driver control signal is present.

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

6. The medical capsule according to claim 5, wherein the switching element, when switching to the ON-state, is adapted and provided to apply a switched positive supply voltage to the electrical circuit.

7. The medical capsule according to claim 5, wherein the switching element, when switching to the ON-state, is adapted and provided to apply a switched negative supply voltage to the electrical circuit.

8. The medical capsule according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit, by outputting the feedback control signal, signals the switch driver to maintain the ON-state of the switching element even when the light on the photosensitive element is off.

9. The medical capsule according to claim 1, wherein the switch driver has a feedback interface, which is adapted and provided to receive the feedback control signal of the electrical circuit.

10. The medical capsule according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive element is a series circuit consisting of a diode and a resistor, and the switch driver and the switching element are each formed by at least one field effect transistor.

11. A system comprising a medical capsule according to claim 1 in a package, and an extracorporeal device including a light source for emitting a light beam, wherein the package of the medical capsule is non-transparent and is adapted and provided to be permeable exclusively the predetermined intensity of the light beam of the light source.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the shape of the package is adapted to the shape of the extracorporeal device and the package is adapted and provided to position the extracorporeal device in exactly one predetermined position on the package.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least one guiding element is formed in the package and is adapted and provided to insert the extracorporeal device in the predetermined position of the package.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one guiding element is adapted and provided to guide an edge of the extracorporeal device, and the medical capsule is arranged in the package so that, when the extracorporeal device is inserted, the position of the light source in the edge of the extracorporeal device coincides with the position of the photosensitive element of the medical capsule in the package.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the medical capsule is adapted, by means of a control button on a display of the extracorporeal device, to switch on the light source in order to activate the medical capsule via the photosensitive element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0046] Hereinafter, the invention will be described in detail by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically shows a medical capsule according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration, which is incorporated in the medical capsule according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an extracorporeal device and the medical capsule as well as the approximate size ratio to each other according to the invention; and

[0050] FIG. 4 shows the system comprising the medical capsule in a package and the extracorporeal device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a medical capsule 1 according to the invention. A circuit configuration 5 is integrated in the medical capsule 1. The circuit configuration 5 comprises 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 FIG. 2). An electrical circuit 2 (see FIG. 2) is incorporated in the medical capsule 1, which has to be activated in order to be used in an intended medical procedure.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration 5, which is incorporated in the medical capsule 1 according to the invention. The circuit configuration 5 comprises the internal power source 3, the photosensitive element 4, a switch driver 6, a switching element 7 and the electrical circuit 2.

[0053] The power source 3 is preferably a battery. The power source 3 has a positive supply conductor 8 and a negative supply conductor 9. The positive supply conductor 8 is adapted to provide a positive supply voltage from a positive terminal 10. The positive terminal 10 is defined as one port/connector of the power source 3. The negative supply conductor 9 is adapted to provide a negative supply voltage from a negative terminal 11. The negative terminal 11 is defined as one other port/connector of the power source 3.

[0054] The photosensitive element 4 comprises a photosensitive part (not shown) and is adapted and provided to output a driver control signal 12 to the switch driver 6. The photosensitive element 4 is connected downstream of the power source 3. That means, the photosensitive element 4 is connected to the positive supply conductor 8 and to the negative supply conductor 9 and is parallel to the power source 3.

[0055] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the photosensitive element 4 comprises a diode 18 as the photosensitive part, and a resistor 19 connected in series. The cathode of the diode 18 is connected to the positive 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 supply conductor 9.

[0056] The switch driver 6 is adapted and provided to output a switch control signal 14 to the switching element 7. The switch driver 6 is connected downstream of the power source 3 and the photosensitive element 4. That means, the switch driver 6 is connected to the positive supply conductor 8 and to the negative supply conductor 9 and is parallel to the power source 3 and to the photosensitive element 4.

[0057] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the switch driver 6 comprises a n-type MOSFET 20. The gate of the n-type MOSFET receives the driver control signal 12. If the driver control signal 12 is present, the switch driver 6 consumes electrical energy and is able to output the switch control signal 14. The drain of the n-type MOSFET 20 is connected to a resistor and then to the positive supply conductor 8. The source of the n-type MOSFET 20 is connected to an additional resistor and then to the negative supply conductor 9.

[0058] Additionally, the switch driver 6 has a feedback interface 17 comprising one more resistor. The feedback interface 17 is adapted and provided 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.

[0059] The switching element 7 is adapted and provided to switch into an ON-state when the switch control signal 14 is applied. The switching element 7 is connected to the switch driver 6 and the electrical circuit 2 in series. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the switching element 7 comprises a p-type MOSFET 21. The gate of the p-type MOSFET 21 receives the switch control signal 14. If the switch control signal is present, the switching element 7 consumes electrical energy and is able to switch into the ON-state. Switching into the ON-state means supplying the electrical circuit 2 with switched positive supply voltage 16.

[0060] The electrical circuit 2 is adapted and provided to return the feedback control signal 13 to the feedback interface 17 of the switch driver 6. That means that when the switching element 7 is in an ON-state, the electrical circuit 2 is powered. The electrical circuit 2 may output a feedback control signal 13 with which the switch driver 6 is signalled to maintain the ON-state of the switching element 7 even if 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 electrical circuit 2 is activated, it remains on until the internal power source 3 is empty or the electrical circuit 2 discontinues the feedback control signal 13.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows an extracorporeal device 22 and the medical capsule 1 as well as the approximate size ratio to each other according to the invention. The extracorporeal device 22 is a device such as a mobile phone or another device, which is able to transmit and receive data information. The extracorporeal device 22 comprises a light source 23, which is 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 an edge of the extracorporeal device 22. A control button 25, preferably as a touch button, is integrated in the display 26 (see FIG. 4). In addition, the extracorporeal device 22 comprises an ON-button 27 to switch the extracorporeal device 22 on.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows the system comprising the medical capsule 1 in a package 15 and the extracorporeal device 22 according to the invention. On the left side of FIG. 4, the package 15 with the medical capsule 1 is shown separately from the extracorporeal device 22. On the right side of FIG. 4, the package 15 with the medical capsule 1 with the extracorporeal device 22 inserted is shown.

[0063] The package 15 has a shape/contour that corresponds to the shape/contour of the extracorporeal device 22. The surface of the package 15 of the medical capsule 1 is adapted and provided to be permeable for the predetermined intensity. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that instead of the light intensity, the package 15 is only permeable for a predetermined wavelength. Accordingly, the medical capsule 1 is not activated by daylight and/or ambient light, but only by light, preferably appropriately adjusted by the package 15, which reaches the predetermined light intensity. The light source 23 is adapted and provided to penetrate the package 15 with its light intensity in order to hit the photosensitive element 4 of the medical capsule 1 and activate it.

[0064] The package 15 comprises at least one guiding element 24. The at least one guiding element 24 is adapted and provided to guide an edge of the extracorporeal device 22. Preferably, the at least one guiding element 24 forms a guiding track. The guiding track is built by the two guiding element 24. In addition, the second guiding element 24 is adapted and provided to serve as a stopper 28. Preferably, the second guiding element 24 is provided in the lower part if the package 15. Therefore, the second guiding element 24 is designed to stop the inserted extracorporeal device 22 at the predetermined position.

[0065] The guiding elements 24 are designed as incline elevations 28 on the package 15. Accordingly, there is a flat inclined section which serves to insert the extracorporeal device 22 smoothly. It is preferable to place the flat inclined section on the right half of the package 15, provided that the light source 23 is in the left edge of the extracorporeal device 22. On the left side of the package 15, the guiding elements 24 each have a steep elevated section 20, which forms an edge against which the edge of the extracorporeal device 22 is placed. This means that the edge of the extracorporeal device is in contact with the medical capsule 1 in the package 15. In other words, the medical capsule 1 is part of the guiding track.

[0066] The extracorporeal device 22 according to FIG. 3 shows the display 26 and the control button 25 in the display 26 for activating the light source 23.

[0067] Therefore, the shape of the package 15 is adapted to the shape of the extracorporeal device 22 and the package 15 is adapted and provided to position the extracorporeal device 22 in exactly one predetermined position on the package 15 according to the right side of FIG. 5. The at least one guiding element 24 is adapted and provided to guide the edge of the extracorporeal device 22, and the medical capsule 1 is arranged in the package 15 so that, when the extracorporeal device 22 is inserted, the position of the light source 23 in the edge of the extracorporeal device 22 coincides with the position of the photosensitive element 4 of the medical capsule 1 in the package 15.

[0068] In summary, the medical capsule 1 is adapted, by means of a control button 25 on a display 26 of the extracorporeal device 22, to switch on the light source 23 in order to activate the medical capsule 1 via the photosensitive element 4.

REFERENCE

[0069] 1 Medical capsule [0070] 2 Electrical circuit [0071] 3 Power source [0072] 4 Photosensitive element [0073] 5 Circuit configuration [0074] 6 Switch driver [0075] 7 Switch element [0076] 8 Positive supply voltage [0077] 9 Negative supply voltage [0078] 10 Positive terminal [0079] 11 Negative terminal [0080] 12 Driver control signal [0081] 13 Feedback control signal [0082] 14 Switch control signal [0083] 15 Package [0084] 16 Switched positive supply voltage [0085] 17 Feedback interface [0086] 18 Diode [0087] 19 Resistor [0088] 20 n-type MOSFET [0089] 21 p-type MOSFET [0090] 22 Extracorporeal device [0091] 23 Light source [0092] 24 Guiding element [0093] 25 Control button [0094] 26 Display [0095] 27 ON-button [0096] 28 Stopper [0097] 29 Flat inclined section [0098] 30 Steep elevated section