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JP-2026075444-A - Endoscopic system, bending control method, and program

JP2026075444AJP 2026075444 AJP2026075444 AJP 2026075444AJP-2026075444-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an endoscope system, a bending control method, and a program that can reduce the burden on the user when switching between two or more bending modes. [Solution] The endoscope system comprises an insertion section and a control section. The control section receives position information from a device indicating a position within a bending operation area that includes two or more direction-specified areas corresponding to two or more bending directions of the insertion section. Each of the two or more direction-specified areas includes a first area and a second area that are different from each other. The control section bends the insertion section in a first bending mode in the bending direction corresponding to the direction-specified area that includes the first area containing the position. Alternatively, the control section bends the insertion section in a second bending mode different from the first bending mode in the bending direction corresponding to the direction-specified area that includes the second area containing the position. [Selection Diagram] Figure 6

Inventors

  • 八木 幸喜

Assignees

  • ワブテック・インスペクション・テクノロジーズ・ジャパン株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241022

Claims (18)

  1. An insertable section that is flexible and acquires an optical image of the inside of the object being observed, A control unit, The device receives position information indicating the position within a bending operation area which includes two or more bending directions of the insertion portion and two or more direction designation areas corresponding to each of the two or more direction designation areas which includes a first area and a second area which are different from each other. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the first region, the insertion portion is curved in a first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the first region. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the second region, the control unit curves the insertion portion in a second curvature mode different from the first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the second region, An endoscopic system having [a certain feature].
  2. Each of the two or more direction designation regions includes a third region that is different from both the first region and the second region. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein when the position indicated by the position information is included in the third region, the control unit does not bend the insertion portion.
  3. Each of the two or more direction designation regions includes a third region that is different from both the first region and the second region. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein when the position indicated by the position information is included in the third region, the control unit bends the insertion portion in the first bending mode or the second bending mode according to the position indicated by the position information received in the past.
  4. The third region is located between the first region and the second region. When the position indicated by the previously received position information is included in the first region, the control unit curves the insertion portion in the first curving mode. The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein when the position indicated by the previously received position information is included in the second region, the control unit bends the insertion portion in the second bending mode.
  5. Each of the first region and the second region includes two or more subregions, The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit curves the insertion portion based on a control value in the sub-region corresponding to the position indicated by the position information among the two or more sub-regions.
  6. The endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit acquires the control value associated with the partial region corresponding to the position indicated by the position information from a storage medium.
  7. The endoscope system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit acquires the control value based on the distance between the position indicated by the position information and a reference position set in advance in the bending operation area.
  8. The control unit, At the first timing, the reception of the location information is initiated. The reception of the position information is terminated at a second timing different from the first timing. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the position information is continuously received between the first timing and the second timing.
  9. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the first region and the second region on a display.
  10. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the bending operation area such that the first area and the second area are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a reference position.
  11. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the bending operation area to more than half of the display screen.
  12. The control unit, The device receives second position information indicating the position on the display screen, The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the bending operation area is set on the display based on the second position information.
  13. The endoscopic system according to claim 1, comprising an endoscopic apparatus having the insertion section, the device, and the control unit.
  14. An endoscope device having the aforementioned insertion section, An operating device that is separated from the endoscope device and communicates with the endoscope device, It has, The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises the device and the control unit.
  15. The aforementioned device is a touch panel, The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit receives the position information indicating the position where the object has come into contact with the touch panel.
  16. The aforementioned device is a mouse, The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit receives position information indicating the position of the bending operation region corresponding to the position of the mouse.
  17. A bending control method for controlling the bending motion of an insertion part that is bendable and acquires an optical image of the inside of an object to be observed, The device receives position information indicating the position within a bending operation area which includes two or more direction designation areas corresponding to two or more bending directions of the insertion portion, and each of the two or more direction designation areas includes a first area and a second area which are different from each other. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the first region, the insertion portion is curved in a first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the first region. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the second region, the insertion portion is curved in a second curvature mode different from the first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the second region. A method for controlling curvature, having the following characteristics.
  18. A program for causing a computer to perform a process to control the bending motion of an insertion part that is bendable and acquires an optical image of the inside of an object being observed, The device receives position information indicating the position within a bending operation area which includes two or more direction designation areas corresponding to two or more bending directions of the insertion portion, and each of the two or more direction designation areas includes a first area and a second area which are different from each other. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the first region, the insertion portion is curved in a first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the first region. When the position indicated by the position information is included in the second region, the insertion portion is curved in a second curvature mode different from the first curvature mode in the curvature direction corresponding to the direction-specified region that includes the second region. A program to cause the aforementioned computer to execute.

Description

This invention relates to an endoscope system, a bending control method, and a program. Industrial endoscopes are used to inspect the internal components of boilers, pipes, and aircraft engines for abnormalities and corrosion. The endoscope has an insertion tube for acquiring images. The user inserts the insertion tube into the object and acquires images of the area to be inspected. The user observes these images and inspects the area. The insertion tube has a bending section that allows it to bend. The user can bend the insertion tube by performing a bending operation. In an endoscope, two or more bending modes are provided for bending control. The endoscope switches between two or more bending modes depending on the required function. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 controls the orientation of a borescope in response to specific operations performed on a screen. Specifically, the technology curves the connecting portion of the borescope according to the distance between the center of the screen and the position of the tap. Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses that specific operations can be used to control the operating mode. Special table 2018-523869 publication This block diagram shows an example of the configuration of an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of the change in the position of the touch area in the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending mode in the first embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in the first embodiment of the present invention.This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an endoscope system according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an endoscope system according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in a second embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a curvature control value in a second embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in a second embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of a procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in a second modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in a third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of the change in the position of the touch area in the third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending mode in a third embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in a third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in a second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a change in the position of the touch area in a second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending mode in a second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for determining the curvature mode and curvature control value in a second modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.This figure shows an example of a bending operation region in the first modified example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows an example of the p