Abstract:
A bending operation system includes an elongated tubular portion including a bending portion, a first linear member and a second linear member which cause the bending portion to bend, and a drive portion which displaces the first linear member and the second linear member. The bending operation system further includes a first displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the first linear member as a first displacement, a second displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the second linear member as a second displacement, and a calculator which calculates operation assist information by use of one or both of the first displacement and the second displacement.
Abstract:
An endoscopic examination supporting apparatus includes at least one processor including hardware. The processor acquires insertion shape information indicating an insertion shape of an insertion section of an endoscope inserted into a subject, evaluates, based on the insertion shape information, a procedure including inserting operation for the insertion section performed by a user who operates the endoscope during an endoscopic examination, and generates procedure evaluation information.
Abstract:
A insertion/removal apparatus comprises an insertion section with flexibility which is inserted into a target object to perform a desired operation, a shape sensor, an insertion section shape calculator, and a direct manipulation information estimation circuit. The shape sensor detects bending of the insertion section and outputs a detection signal. The insertion section shape calculator which calculates insertion section shape information indicating a shape of the insertion section, based on the detection signal output from the shape sensor. The direct manipulation information estimation circuit which estimates direct manipulation information including at least one of an insertion/removal amount and a rotation amount of the insertion section inserted into and removed from the target object, based on the insertion section shape information.
Abstract:
At least one optical fiber of a fiber sensor has sensing parts whose number is number of the anticipated inflection points+one or more, the anticipated inflection points being inflection points of a shape of a detection target range of a detection target. The number of the anticipated inflection points is decided based on one of a functional limit and a structural limit which limit a degree of freedom in a bending shape of the detection target. A space L1 between the anticipated inflection points is L1=r1·θ1, wherein r1 is a curvature radius at a maximum bending of the detection target range of the detection target, θ1 is a central angle of an arc created by the space between the anticipated inflection points at the maximum bending, and θ1≧π/2.
Abstract:
A future shape estimation apparatus includes an insertion section, a shape sensor and an insertion section future shape estimation circuit. The insertion section has flexibility and is to be inserted into an observation target object. The shape sensor detects a bending state of the insertion section and outputs a detection signal. The insertion section future shape estimation circuit estimates a future shape of the insertion section after a predetermined lapse of time based on information acquired from the detection signal output from the shape sensor, and outputs the future shape as future estimation shape information.
Abstract:
A multipoint detection fiber sensor including a plurality of sensing parts at a plurality of positions is provided. The sensing parts are able to detect curve amounts respectively. The multipoint detection fiber sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged in an overall effective detection area that is an extent in which the multipoint detection fiber sensor detects curve amounts. Each of the optical fibers includes the plurality of sensing parts. The multipoint detection fiber sensor also includes a light source which supplies light to the optical fibers and a light receiver which receives light emitted through the optical fibers to which light is supplied. Furthermore, an insertion apparatus into which the multipoint detection fiber sensor is incorporated is provided.
Abstract:
An insertion portion detection device provided with a light source unit which emits measuring beam to an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shape of an insertion portion to be inserted into an insertion target and to be a detection target, an optical pattern detection unit which receives reflected light from the outer circumferential surface and which sequentially acquires image data in a predetermined range of the outer circumferential surface including given optical patterns so that at least some of the optical patterns correspond to the image data, and a displacement amount calculation unit which detects a corresponding optical pattern from the image data and calculates at least one of an insertion amount of the insertion portion and an amount of rotation around the central axis of the cylindrical shape.
Abstract:
An movement assistance system includes a processor. The processor detects a position in picked-up images of an image of an image pickup target, causes a memory to store the position, estimates a change in the position of the image pickup target, estimates the position of the image pickup target and performs control for causing a display apparatus to display an estimation result of the position of the image pickup target, when detecting a disappearance state in which the image of the image pickup target is not detected, and performs control for causing the display apparatus not to display the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target when detecting, after the image pickup target is brought into the disappearance state, that a position indicated by the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target is a position inside an output determination region.
Abstract:
An insertion system includes an insertion section and a rigidity variable portion provided in the insertion section. The rigidity variable portion includes a superelastic alloy member whose rigidity starts changing from a high-rigidity state to a low-rigidity state at a temperature, which varies with a degree of bending of the superelastic alloy member, and a heating member capable of switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member. The insertion system also includes a bending state detection sensor that detects a bending state of the rigidity variable portion, and a rigidity variable controller that controls switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member by the heating member to control the temperature of the superelastic alloy member.
Abstract:
An insertion apparatus includes a flexible insert section inserted into an insertion target and a curved-shape detection sensor which detects a curved shape of the insert section. The curved-shape detection sensor includes at least a core, a cladding, a coating, and a sensing part mechanically attached to the core and detecting the curved shape. The optical fiber is disposed at least in the insert section. The optical fiber includes at least one displacement restraint section which directly or indirectly restrains a displacement of the sensing part relative to the insert section.