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:
Nov. 07, 2023
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2020
Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible insertion section to be inserted into a subject and bent by a reaction force from the subject, a variable stiffness unit provided in the insertion section and configured to change a stiffness of the insertion section, and a shape detector configured to detect a bent shape of the insertion section. The apparatus further includes a force specifier configured to acquire a distribution of the reaction force on a distal side from a predetermined point in the bent shape and specify a maximum reaction force position, and a stiffness controller configured to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness unit so as to increase a stiffness of the variable stiffness unit between the predetermined point and the maximum reaction force position.