Patent ID: 7041053
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope comprising: a flexible insertion section which is insertable into a space to be inspected, the insertion section including a bendable portion at a distal end thereof; a bending mechanism located on a proximal side of the insertion section, the bending mechanism being configured to drive the bendable portion; a centering control section configured to control the bending mechanism such that the bendable portion is returned to a neutral position where the bendable portion is substantially linear; a centering instruction input section from which an instruction for controlling the centering control section is input; a recognition section configured to recognize a bending characteristic variance in each of directions in which the bendable portion is bendable; a parameter storage section configured to store parameters for use in generating a centering instruction signal is generated based on an amount of bending of the bendable portion which varies in accordance with the bending characteristic variance in each of the directions; and a bend-varying section configured to vary, in accordance with any of the parameters stored in the parameter storage section, the amount of bending of the bendable portion, which is performed when a bent state of the bendable portion is returned to a neutral position by the centering control section on the basis of a recognition result of the recognition section.