Linear motor promotion mechanics has been applied to a capsule endoscope with self-propel mechanism, in which the capsule transport can be controlled by utilizing the reactive force or collision force caused by the movement of a neodymium magnet. A prototype capsule has been developed and examined in a simulated bowel to confirm the utility of the characteristic transport of a capsule. Repetition trial of ten times has confirmed that the capsule showed a relatively stable transport for both sliding-drive and knocking-drive methods; the transport distance caused by twenty reciprocating motion of the sliding-drive and of the knocking-drive methods were 33.0-35.0 mm (33.8 mm on average) and 55.0-66.0 mm (56.8 mm on average), respectively. Experimental results also suggest that the PWM (pulse-width-modulation) period of the current signal supplied to the circumference coil periodically exerts an influence on the movement velocity of capsule, and that a stable movement characteristic can be achieved by optimizing PWM period. The relative positioning of the movable magnet, however, showed an unstable behavior because of the inertia force of the magnet, indicating that the operation program for the stable movement of a capsule should be introduced on the basis of a relation of PWM period to the current density and hence the induced magnetic-flux density.

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It is tough subject to wash medical instruments with fine structure or tubular structure, though some exclusive accessories for WD and ultrasound washer are available now. This time, we would like to report newly developed washing method named as “Vacuum Boiling Washer” . The concept of this washer is application of physical energy of boiling water. This new washing machine has air sealed washing bath and it can reduce pressure to 10 kPa (0.1 bar). Water comes to boil at less than 50 degrees Celsius by reducing pressure to 10 kPa. And bumping can be generated by inducting air injection into the decompressed water. The strong physical energy of boiling water and bumping water generate effective washing ability. Furthermore, iteration of reducing pressure and revert back to the normal pressure makes strong circulating current of the washing agent into the fine structure or tubular structure of the instruments. We′ve attained significantly good results of the washing experiments with some models of fine structure and tubular structure.

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