Patent ID: 7857753
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope shape detection device comprising: a detection section having either one of a plurality of magnetic field generation elements and a plurality of magnetic field detection elements disposed in an insertion part of an endoscope to be inserted into a subject and the other elements disposed outside the subject, and, detecting each position of the one elements disposed in the insertion part using positions of the other elements as a reference; a shape estimation section for estimating a shape of the endoscope insertion part based on the detection result of the detection section; a property value detection section for detecting an electric property value of the magnetic field generation elements; a storage section for storing a reference value of the electric property value; and a state detection section for detecting a state of the magnetic field generation elements based on the electric property value of the magnetic field generation elements detected by the property value detection section and the reference value, wherein the storage section stores a past value of the electric property value of the magnetic field generation elements detected by the property value detection section as the reference value; and the state detection section calculates a variation of the electric property value based on the past value of the electric property value stored on the storage section and a value of the electric property value of the present time detected by the property value detection section, and detects a state of the magnetic field generation elements based on the calculation result.