Endoscope
First Claim
1. An endoscope comprising:
- a flexible insertion section which is insertable into a space to be inspected, the insertion section including a bendable portion at a distal end thereof;
a bending mechanism located on a proximal side of the insertion section, the bending mechanism being configured to drive the bendable portion;
a centering control section configured to control the bending mechanism such that the bendable portion is returned to a neutral position where the bendable portion is substantially linear;
a centering instruction input section from which an instruction for controlling the centering control section is input; and
a return position adjustment section configured to vary the bend of the bendable portion when the bendable portion is returned to the neutral position, the return position adjustment section operating when the centering control section is operated and determining the bend in accordance with a bending characteristic difference the bendable portion has between bending directions.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope is provided with a centering control section and a centering button. The centering control section is configured to control a bending mechanism in such a manner as to return a bendable portion to a neutral position where the bendable portion is substantially linear. The centering button is used for entering an instruction for controlling the centering control section. The endoscope is also provided with a personal computer configured to change the bend the bendable portion should have when the bendable portion is returned to the neutral position. The bend is changed in accordance with a bending characteristic variance the bendable portion may undergo in each bending direction.
60 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An endoscope comprising:
-
a flexible insertion section which is insertable into a space to be inspected, the insertion section including a bendable portion at a distal end thereof;
a bending mechanism located on a proximal side of the insertion section, the bending mechanism being configured to drive the bendable portion;
a centering control section configured to control the bending mechanism such that the bendable portion is returned to a neutral position where the bendable portion is substantially linear;
a centering instruction input section from which an instruction for controlling the centering control section is input; and
a return position adjustment section configured to vary the bend of the bendable portion when the bendable portion is returned to the neutral position, the return position adjustment section operating when the centering control section is operated and determining the bend in accordance with a bending characteristic difference the bendable portion has between bending directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An endoscope comprising:
-
a flexible insertion section which is insertable into a space to be inspected, the insertion section including a bendable portion at a distal end thereof;
a bending mechanism located on a proximal side of the insertion section, the bending mechanism being configured to drive the bendable portion;
a recognition section configured to recognize a bending characteristic variance the bendable portion may undergo in each bending direction; and
a bend-varying section configured to vary a bend the bendable portion should have, on the basis of a recognition result of the recognition section. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification