Abstract
We have developed a traveling small capsule, which has a smooth outer surface and is driven by vibration. Measuring only 11 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length, it is sufficiently small to be placed in the human gullet or intestines. Although the capsule does not have wheels nor legs, it can travel utilizing vibration. For these reasons, there is nothing protruding to harm the soft tissue of intestine. The capsule contains a small magnet, a coil, batteries and a circuit, and an electric pulse drives the coil to move the capsule. We did the experimental investigation that our capsule can travel in a plastic pipe and it can also travel on pig intestine surface. We also have developed liquid medicine dispenser that can be put inside the capsule. Our capsule may be useful for medical treatments such as inspection and drug delivery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adachi H (1992) Japan Patent #H06-154191
Boyer F, Porez M, Khalil W (2006) Macro-continuous computed torque algorithm for a three-dimensional eel-like robot. IEEE Trans Robot 22(4):763–775
Hirano S, Luo Zhi-Wei, Kato A (2006) Development of an inchworm-type searching robot. J Robot Soc Jpn 24(7):838–844
Masuda N, Hayashi T, Cai Y (1994) Developments of guidance machine for colonoscope. Int J JSPE 28(1)
Nakazato Y, Ishii T, Sato H, Ariga Y (2001) Development of in-pipe mobile robot driven by hydraulic pressure. In: Proceedings of the 3rd IFToMM international micromechanism symposium, pp 13–16
Oura M, Hayashi T (1997) Traveling machine with six legs for inside of tube. In: Proceedings of JSPE 1997 spring conference
Takahashi K (1992) Japan Patent #H05-212093
Taylor RH (2006) A perspective on medical robotics. Proc IEEE 94(9):1652–1664
Wakimoto S, Suzumori K, Kanda T (2006) A bio-mimetic amphibious soft cord robot. Trans Jpn Soc Mech Eng Ser C 72(714):471–477
Yokota S (2006) Functional fluids from point of view of actuators. J Robot Soc Jpn 24(4):25–31
Yoshida K, Park J-H, Shimizu T, Yokota S (2001) A micropump-mounted in-pipe mobile micromachine using homogeneous electro-rheological fluid. In: Proceedings of the 3rd IFToMM international micromechanism symposium, pp 2–7
Acknowledgments
The research work reported here was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (#26350538).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ito, T., Murakami, S. (2017). Capsule Micromechanism Driven by Impulse—Wireless Implementation. In: Zentner, L., Corves, B., Jensen, B., Lovasz, EC. (eds) Microactuators and Micromechanisms. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 45. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45387-3_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45387-3_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-45386-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-45387-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)