Patent ID: 8734431
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A remote control system for performing an operation on an object, comprising: a) an imaging device that takes an image of the object; b) a manipulation tool having, at a tip thereof, an illuminator that casts a spot light onto the object; c) a driver that changes a position of the manipulation tool; d) an external display unit that displays an image taken by the imaging device; e) an input unit that allows an operator to specify a specified point corresponding to a display of the external display unit, the input unit being a device that allows the operator to input a trajectory, along which the tip of the manipulation tool is to follow the specified point, by moving the specified point on the display of the external display device; f) a distance calculator that calculates a first distance, which is a distance between the specified point and a position of the spot light cast from the illuminator on the object, and that calculates a second distance, which is a distance between the specified point and the tip of the manipulation tool; and g) a controller that controls the driver so as to simultaneously perform a process of bringing the position of the spot light closer to the specified point moving on the trajectory and a process of bringing the tip of the manipulation tool closer to the specified point moving on the trajectory, the controller having a function of controlling the driver so as to maintain a state where the first distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value when the specified point has been moved.