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Endoscope apparatus with motor-driven bending mechanism

  • US 4,559,928 A
  • Filed: 02/15/1985
  • Issued: 12/24/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1981
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. an endoscope apparatus comprising:

  • (a) an elongated insertion section adapted to be inserted into a body cavity and freely bendable therein in a desired direction;

    (b) a main body, and an eyepiece section, both coupled to said insertion section;

    (c) motor means in said main body for receiving electric power and for generating torque to bend said insertion section;

    (d) bending means mechanically connected to said motor means and said insertion section, for bending said insertion section in accordance with the torque generated by said motor means;

    (e) an operation member provided at said endoscope main body and including a lever member to be manually operated by an operator;

    (f) bending speed controller means connected to said motor means and to said lever member and including level displacement detecting means disposed near said lever member for electrically detecting displacement of said lever member, said lever displacement detecting means consisting of a material the conductivity of which increases with increased pressure, said lever displacement detecting means including a plurality of detecting portions pressed in an order corresponding to the displacement of said lever member, and transistor circuit means connected to said lever displacement detecting means and said motor means for continuously increasing the power supplied to said motor means, between a minimum and a maximum level, in accordance with the displacement of said lever member, and(g) bending speed indicator means arranged in said eyepiece section and electrically connected to said lever member and said lever displacement detecting means, said bending speed indicator means comprising a plurality of light-emitting devices provided in said eyepiece section and which increase the amount of light emitted thereby, substantially in proportion to the displacement of said lever member, for indicating to the operator the actual speed level of said insertion section while looking in the eyepiece section, based on the amount of electrical power supplied to said motor means.

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