PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable precise control of a travel direction of a self-travelling capsule endoscope to be easily performed.SOLUTION: A travel control device 3 is provided with: a magnetic field generation part 31 that generates a magnetostatic field and an AC magnetic field in order to cause a self-travelling capsule endoscope 2 comprising a fin member integrally provided at a rear end of a main body to self travel in a body, the fin member containing a magnet loaded with a magnetization direction directed to a cross direction a magnetic field control part 32 that drives the magnetic field generation part 31 and generates a magnetostatic field directed to a direction in a three-dimensional space and an AC magnetic field orthogonal to the magnetostatic field and an operation part 33. The magnetic field control part 32 adjusts, in response to that operation for adjusting the travel direction of the self-travelling capsule endoscope 2 is performed, the direction of the magnetostatic field to a travel direction after the adjustment, and adjusts, in response to that operation for adjusting a travel speed of the self-travelling capsule endoscope 2 is performed, an amplitude or a frequency to a magnitude corresponding to the operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】自走式カプセル内視鏡の進行方向の精密な制御を容易に実施できるようにする。【解決手段】磁化方向を前後方向に向けて搭載された磁石を含むヒレ部材が本体部の後端に一体に設けられて成る自走式カプセル内視鏡2を体内で自走させるために、静磁場および交流磁場を発生させる磁場発生部31と、磁場発生部31を駆動して、3次元空間内の任意の方向を向く静磁場とこの静磁場に直交する交流磁場とを発生させる磁場制御部32と、操作部33とを備える走行制御装置3を提供する。磁場制御部32は、自走式カプセル内視鏡2の進行方向を調整する操作が行われたことに応じてその調整後の進行方向に静磁場の方向を合わせ、自走式カプセル内視鏡2の進行速度を調整する操作が行われたことに応じて、交流磁場の振幅または周波数を当該操作に応じた大きさに調整する。【選択図】図1
