Abstract:
A multijointed bending mechanism having a first bending piece, a second bending piece connected to the first bending piece so as to be rotatable around a first rotation shaft, a third bending piece connected to the second bending piece so as to be rotatable around a second rotation shaft, at least two first wires connected to the first bending piece to rotate the first bending piece and at least two second wires connected to the second bending piece to rotate the second bending piece. The first wires and the second wires are disposed concentrically with respect to a vertical direction of the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft.
Abstract:
An endoscope system includes an endoscope with a bending portion installed on a distal side of an insertion portion; a bending drive unit which drives and bends the bending portion electrically; a map information storage unit which stores map information digitized by associating an amount of bending and a corresponding three-dimensional position and direction of a distal end of the insertion portion with each other, with a position near a rear end of the bending portion being designated as a reference position; a position and direction detecting unit which detects the position and direction of the distal end of the insertion portion; and a bending control unit which controls the bending drive unit to orient the distal end of the insertion portion into a target direction using the map information.