# US 11,896,205 B2 · Digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,205 B2 - Document ID: US11896205B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/204,001 - Filed: 2021-03-17 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-18 - Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd. - Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd. - Inventors: Ayako Nishimura; Akihiko Kandori; Tsukasa Funane; Akiko Obata; Hirokazu Atsumori; Masashi Kiguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896205B2 ## CPC - A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids} - A61B 5/073: {Intestinal transmitters} - A61B 5/6861: {Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting} - A61B 10/0038: {Devices for taking faeces samples; Faecal examination devices (anal receptacles A61F5/451)} - A61B 5/6871: {Stomach} - A61B 2010/0061: {Alimentary tract secretions, e.g. biliary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic secretions} - A61B 2560/0406: specially shaped apparatus housings - A61B 2562/02: Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements - A61B 2562/162: Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation - A61M 31/00: Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule for sampling internal contents in a digestive organ includes: a cylindrical container insoluble in a digestive tract for housing the internal contents in the digestive organ; an outer lid enclosing an orifice of the cylindrical container and to dissolve at least partially in the digestive organ; an inner lid arranged in the cylindrical container, and to swell in response to contact with the internal contents in the digestive organ to enclose the orifice of the cylindrical container after the orifice is exposed by dissolving of at least a part of the outer lid; and a marker material to be discharged together with the cylindrical container housing the internal contents in the digestive organ and feces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule for sampling internal contents in a digestive organ, comprising: a cylindrical container insoluble in a digestive tract for housing the internal contents in the digestive organ, the cylindrical container including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder; an outer lid enclosing an orifice of the cylindrical container and the outer lid is configured to dissolve at least partially in the digestive organ; an inner lid arranged in the cylindrical container, and the inner lid is configured to swell in response to contact with the internal contents in the digestive organ to enclose the orifice of the cylindrical container after the orifice is exposed by dissolving of at least a part of the outer lid; and a marker material to be discharged together with the cylindrical container housing the internal contents in the digestive organ and feces; wherein the inner cylinder abuts an open end of the outer lid, and the outer cylinder extends axially beyond a location where the inner cylinder abuts the open end of the outer lid, such that the outer cylinder overlaps the outer lid in an axial direction of the digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the marker material is housed in advance in the cylindrical container and is caused to flow out from the cylindrical container by dissolving of at least a part of the outer lid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 2, wherein the inner lid is made of a water-swellable material, and the marker material is a powder and granular material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 2, wherein the marker material is an edible material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the marker material is a fluorescent material contained in a material forming the cylindrical container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the marker material is a fluorescent material, and the fluorescent material is contained in a part interposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder is made of a magnetic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the outer lid is a first outer lid, and the inner lid is a first inner lid, the digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule further comprising: a second outer lid enclosing an orifice of the cylindrical container on an opposite side of the first outer lid and the second outer lid is configured to dissolve at least partially in the digestive organ; and a second inner lid arranged in the cylindrical container, and the second inner lid is configured to swell in response to contact with the internal contents in the digestive organ to enclose the orifice of the cylindrical container after the orifice is exposed by dissolving of at least a part of the second outer lid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, further comprising: a thread-like part penetrating the inner lid and fixed to the cylindrical container, wherein the inner lid is separated from an inner wall surface of the cylindrical container before the inner lid swells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of thread-like parts penetrating the inner lid at different positions and fixed to the cylindrical container, wherein the inner lid supported by the thread-like parts has a maximum size as viewed in an axis direction of the cylindrical container less than a maximum size of the inner lid as viewed in a radius direction of the cylindrical container before and after swelling of the inner lid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 9, wherein both ends of the thread-like part are fixed to the inner cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 9, wherein both ends of the thread-like part are interposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder has higher rigidity than the outer cylinder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The digestive organ internal contents sampling capsule according to claim 1, wherein the digestive organ is a small intestine.