The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 2021
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2018
Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An insertion system includes an insertion section and a rigidity variable portion provided in the insertion section. The rigidity variable portion includes a superelastic alloy member whose rigidity starts changing from a high-rigidity state to a low-rigidity state at a temperature, which varies with a degree of bending of the superelastic alloy member, and a heating member capable of switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member. The insertion system also includes a bending state detection sensor that detects a bending state of the rigidity variable portion, and a rigidity variable controller that controls switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member by the heating member to control the temperature of the superelastic alloy member.