Patent ID: 7942810
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope comprising: an insert section including a freely bendable bending section; an illumination section for emitting illumination light; an optical element for splitting the illumination light emitted from the illumination section into transmission light and reflection light, by a light branch section provided at a peripheral portion of the optical element; a first light guide member for guiding the reflection light; a pressure deformation member arranged at the insert section, into which the reflection light guided by the first light guide member is emitted, the pressure deforming member being deformed in accordance with an amount of pressure exerted from outside; a second light guide member for guiding light reflected inside the pressure deformation member; a light detection section for detecting quantity of the light guided by the second light guide member; and a control section for controlling driving of the bending section based on the quantity of the light detected by the light detection section.