Endoscope system, capsule endoscope device, and method for operating endoscope system

A capsule endoscope device comprising:

• an image sensor;
• and
• a processor that controls an imaging operation of the image sensor,
• the capsule endoscope device being settable to be in a first operation mode and settable to be in a second operation mode,
• the processor performing, when the capsule endoscope device is set to be in the second operation mode, control of the image operation of the image sensor, based on first information on another capsule endoscope device that has been introduced into a living body before the capsule endoscope device set to be in the second operation mode is introduced into the living body, and that has been set to be in the first operation mode,
• the control performed by the processor including an increase in a power consumption of the capsule endoscope device, and
• the first information including at least one of (i) information on a remaining battery charge of the another capsule endoscope device, (ii) an image captured by the another capsule endoscope device, (iii) information on a time during which the another capsule endoscope device is within the living body, and (iv) position information indicating a position of the another capsule endoscope device in the living body.

An endoscope system comprising:

• a first capsule endoscope device;
• a second capsule endoscope device;
• and
• a processing device that performs a process of presenting introduction determination information for determining whether or not to introduce the second capsule endoscope device into a living body or determining an introduction timing, based on first information on the first capsule endoscope device that has been introduced into the living body before the second capsule endoscope device is introduced into the living body,
• the first information including at least one of (i) information on a remaining battery charge of the first capsule endoscope device and (ii) information on a time elapsed after the first capsule endoscope device has been introduced into the living body.

A method for operating an endoscope system, the method comprising:

• introducing a first capsule endoscope device into a living body, the first capsule endoscope device including a first image sensor and a first processor that controls an imaging operation of the first image sensor;
• and
• introducing a second capsule endoscope device into the living body, the second capsule endoscope device including a second image sensor and a second processor that performs control of an imaging operation of the second image sensor based on first information on the first capsule endoscope device,
• the control performed by the second processor including an increase in a power consumption of the second capsule endoscope device, and
• the first information including at least one of (i) information on a remaining battery charge of the first capsule endoscope device, (ii) an image captured by the first capsule endoscope device, (iii) information on a time during which the first capsule endoscope device is within the living body, and (iv) position information indicating a position of the first capsule endoscope device in the living body.