Electromotive warping type endoscope with velocity control
US5469840A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/009
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a warping velocity control device which receives an angle of warp detected by an angle detection device and a value of an electric current realized at this angle of warp and detected by an electric current detection device. The control device makes comparisons between the angle of warp and the value of the electric current and data about a normal state stored in a storage device. If the result is larger than data for the normal state by a predetermined value, the warping velocity is lowered while a discrimination is made that an abnormal state (the warp-enabled portion has come in contact with the body wall) takes place. Additionally, the apparatus could include a time detecting device for detecting a time in which an electric quantity supplied to a drive means is larger than a predetermined time. The warping velocity control device controls the warping velocity according to the comparison made by the time detecting device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.