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:
Jan. 28, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1999
Akira Taniguchi, Hachioji, JP;
Chieko Aizawa, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhiro Yoshizawa, Hachioji, JP;
Fumiyuki Onoda, Tama, JP;
Seiki Toriyama, Hino, JP;
Takeshi Kawabata, Sagamihara, JP;
Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Hino, JP;
Sumihiro Uchimura, Sagamihara, JP;
Masanao Hara, Hino, JP;
Kazutaka Tsuji, Hachioji, JP;
Takayasu Miyagi, Hachioji, JP;
Hiroki Moriyama, Akishima, JP;
Hiroshi Ishii, Hino, JP;
Yoshinao Oaki, Hino, JP;
Tsugio Okazaki, Aizuwakamatsu, JP;
Jun Hasegawa, Hino, JP;
Yasuo Hirata, Hachioji, JP;
Tetsuo Nonami, Hino, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An endoscope shape detection system has a CPU included in a control unit. The CPU performs frequency sampling on digital data to calculate coordinates indicating the spatial positions of source coils incorporated in an insertion unit of an endoscope and of marker coils. An inserted state of the insertion unit of the endoscope is estimated based on the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the source coils. Display data based on which shape of the endoscope depicted is produced from the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the source coils, and output to a video RAM. Display data based on which marker coils are depicted is produced from the calculated coordinate data indicating the positions of the marker coils, and output to the video RAM. Consequently, the positions of the markers are depicted together with the shape of the endoscope. The positional relationship between the insertion unit of the endoscope and a patient's body can therefore be ascertained.