Electric bending endoscope

Abstract

An electric bending endoscope includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of a motor as a state value indicating the driving state of a bending drive unit. A bending control device comprises: a temperature detection unit that receives the data of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; a record unit in which the limits of motor temperature inputted in advance are recorded; a comparison unit that compares the data of the temperature sent from the temperature detection unit with the limits of motor temperature recorded in the record unit; and a notification unit that notifies that the driving state of a motor is approaching the limit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . The electric bending endoscope comprising: 
 an elongated insertion unit;    a bending section formed adjacently to a distal section of the insertion unit;    a bending drive unit for driving the bending section to bend;    a bending operation input unit for use in instructing bending of the bending section;    a state detection unit for detecting the driving state of the bending drive unit;    a record unit in which the limits of abilities of the bending drive unit are recorded;    a comparison unit for comparing the driving state detected by the state detection unit with the limits recorded in the record unit; and    a control unit for when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, notifying a user of the driving state of the bending drive.    
     
     
         2 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control unit stops supply of energy to the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         3 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control unit disconnects transmission of power exerted by the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         4 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the bending drive unit comprises bending operation wires that bend the bending section, a bending motor that draws or releases the bending operation wires, and a sprocket that converts the driving force exerted by the bending motor into the advancing or withdrawing motions of the bending operation wires; and    the state detection unit detects the driving state of the bending motor.    
     
     
         5 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the bending motor.  
     
     
         6 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a driving signal detection unit that detects a driving signal with which the bending motor is driven.  
     
     
         7 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a torque detection unit that detects the torque exerted by the bending motor.  
     
     
         8 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a rotating speed detection unit that detects the rotating speed of the bending motor.  
     
     
         9 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a tension detection unit that detects the tensions of the bending operation wires.  
     
     
         10 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a bent position detection unit that detects the positions to which the bending operation wires are bent.  
     
     
         11 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a rotational position detection unit that detects the rotational position of the sprocket.  
     
     
         12 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a rotating speed detection unit that detects the rotating speed of the sprocket.  
     
     
         13 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 4 , wherein the state detection unit is a mechanical use time detection unit that detects the mechanical use time of the bending motor.  
     
     
         14 . The electric bending endoscope comprising: 
 an elongated insertion unit;    a bending section formed adjacently to a distal section of the insertion unit;    a bending drive unit for driving the bending section to bend;    a bending operation input unit for use in instructing bending of the bending section;    a state detection unit for detecting the driving state of the bending drive unit;    a record unit in which the limits of abilities of the bending drive unit are recorded;    a comparison unit for comparing the driving state detected by the state detection unit with the limits recorded in the record unit; and    a control unit for when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, stopping supply of energy to the bending drive unit.    
     
     
         15 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 14 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control units notifies a user of the driving state of the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         16 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 14 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control units disconnects transmission of power exerted by the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         17 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the bending drive unit comprises bending operation wires that bend the bending unit, a bending motor that draws or releases the bending operation wires, and a sprocket that converts the driving force exerted by the bending motor into the advancing or withdrawing motions of the bending operation wires; and    the state detection unit detects the driving state of the bending motor.    
     
     
         18 . The electric bending endoscope comprising: 
 an elongated insertion unit;    a bending section formed adjacently to a distal section of the insertion unit;    a bending drive unit for driving the bending section to bend;    a bending operation input unit for use in instructing bending of the bending section;    a state detection unit for detecting the driving state of the bending drive unit;    a record unit in which the limits of abilities of the bending drive unit are recorded;    a comparison unit for comparing the driving state detected by the state detection unit with the limits recorded in the record unit; and    a control unit that when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, disconnects transmission of power exerted by the bending drive unit.    
     
     
         19 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control unit notifies a user of the driving state of the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         20 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein when the results of comparison sent from the comparison unit demonstrate that the driving state of the bending drive unit has reached the limit, the control unit stops supply of energy to the bending drive unit.  
     
     
         21 . The electric bending endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the bending drive unit comprises bending operation wires that bend the bending unit, a bending motor that draws or releases the bending operation wires, and a sprocket that converts the driving force exerted by the bending motor into the advancing or withdrawing motions of the bending operation wires; and    the state detection unit detects the driving state of the bending motor.