| |
|
Q.1 |
What is the difference
between a conventional capsule endoscope and Sayaka? |
 |
The current endoscopic capsules on the
market all have the lens installed at either end of the capsule.
There are a number of weak points with this current design. Since
the capsule can only capture images within its field of view, full
gastrointestinal viewing is near impossible. The following example
helps to explain, |
| |
(1) |
Imagine being in a long dark tunnel
with only small flashlight shining in front of you. It is
easy to imagine that one can clearly see what is in front
of their field of vision, but it is extremely difficult to
see the actual sides of the tunnel. Logically, your attention
should be focused on the walls where defects would be, but
in actuality is limited to only what is in front of you. This
is the similar situation for the currently designed endoscopic
capsules in a gastrointestinal tract. |
(2) |
Most current endoscopic capsules
in use today, adopt a wide-angle lens oriented to and focused
on the lateral surface where doctors are most concerned. But,
a wide-angle lens has an intrinsic fault of distortion within
that peripheral view. Consequently, this image must be corrected
with the aid of software, but the final results are limited
due to distortion while capturing. |
The newly announced Sayaka has a lens on the lateral
surface of the capsule instead of the front. This new design obtains
clear-cut lateral images of the gastrointestinal wall while the
inner capsule spins in the digestive tract. Therefore, the advantage
of this lateral macro photography are clear-cut and high resolution
images despite a low light environment. These images are recorded
in 2 MB/mm2 pixel resolution which allows up to around 75-fold
enhancement on a 17-inch monitor.
|
Q.2 |
What is Sayaka's
rotation mechanism? |
|
Sayaka is characterized by a double-structured cupsule
made up of an outer and an inner capsule. Whereas the outer capsule
traverses through the gastrointestinal tract, the inner capsule
alone spins. This spinning is derived by Sayaka's small permanent
magnet and an electromagnet which causes "stepping rotation".
|
Q.3 |
What is stepping
rotation? |
|
Some motors only run when receiving pulsed signals
resulting in a constant starting and stopping of the motor which
causes the "stepping rotation". The rotation angle,
also referred to as stepping angle, is proportional to the given
pulsed signals. Sayaka is designed to have a stepping angle of
7.5 degrees. This stepping rotation is necessary in order to prevent
fluctuation or blurring in the images. In Sayaka's promotion video,
images are provided in synchronization with strobe light flashes.
|
| |
|
Q.4 |
What is the number
of frames per second and how many images does Sayaka capture? |
|
Over an 8-hour period procedure, Sayaka will generate
approximately 870,000 images of the whole digestive tract at a
rate of 30 frames per second.
|
Q.5 |
What is mosaicing technology? |
|
This is a process by which the final image which
the doctor sees on the computer display is made by combining multiple
images taken from various angles. This technology is well established
and information can be found on numerous Websites. Mosaicing technology
was developed for use with NORIKA 3 and has subsequently been
improved for use with Sayaka.
|
| |
|
Q.6 |
Can we scroll through stored data to view animated
images with motion pictures of any concerned area? |
|
YES. An integrated image is made up of 30 freeze-frame
pictures, each of which is stored with an assigned address. Each
single address can be viewed as an animated set.
|
Q.7 |
Is it possible
to conduct an endoscopy inside the stomach using Sayaka? |
|
NO. Sayaka's current technology is developed for
the sole purpose of conducting a complete endoscopy within the
small and large intestines.
|
| |
|
Q.8 |
Have you already
made any information available or announcements to the public in
regards to Sayaka? |
|
Jiro Maruyama, the president and CEO of RF System lab.,
presented an paper academic lecture entitled "The Future
of the Capsule Endoscope" to the Japanese Society of Applied
Physics on 10th December 2005, at Shinsyu University, Faculty
of Engineering.
|
| |
|
