# US 2018/0324352 A1 · Endoscope Apparatus, Operation Control Method For Endoscope Apparatus, And Storage Medium Having Operation Control Program For Endoscope Apparatus Stored Therein

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- Number: US 2018/0324352 A1
- Document ID: US20180324352A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/027,649
- Filed: 2018-07-05
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-08
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Tsuyoshi FURUHATA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324352A1

## CPC

- H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces
- A61B 1/00006: {of control signals}
- A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope}
- A61B 1/0004: {for electronic operation}
- A61B 1/00042: {for mechanical operation}
- A61B 1/00045: {Display arrangement}
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/0051: {with controlled bending of insertion part}
- G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports}
- G06F 3/0338: with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
- G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders
- A61B 1/04: combined with photographic or television appliances
- G02B 23/2484: {Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device (processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70)}
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An endoscope apparatus determines whether a first instruction input by an operation section is detected, performs first operation control on a bending section when determining that the first instruction input is detected, determines whether a second instruction input by a touch panel is detected, and performs second operation control different from the first operation control on the bending section when determining that the second instruction input is detected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope apparatus comprising:
a display device configured to display an endoscopic image obtained by picking up an image of an object with an image pickup section;
a touch panel provided in the display device;
an insertion section including a bendable bending section;
an operation section including at least one operation device; and
a processor, wherein
the processor determines whether a first instruction input by the operation section is detected,
performs first operation control on the bending section when determining that the first instruction input is detected,
determines whether a second instruction input by the touch panel is detected, and
performs second operation control different from the first operation control on the bending section when determining that the second instruction input is detected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one operation device is a joystick, and
the first instruction input is an instruction input by an operation method of operating the joystick.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first operation control includes operation control for causing the bending section to perform a bending motion by a distance corresponding to a tilting amount of the joystick in a direction in which the joystick is tilted, and
the second operation control includes operation control for causing the bending section to perform the bending motion by a distance corresponding to a contact time period of the touch panel in a direction toward a contact position of a finger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first operation control includes operation control for causing the bending section to perform a bending motion in a direction in which the joystick is tilted, and
the second operation control includes operation control for causing the bending section to perform the bending motion to move from a contact end position toward a contact start position of a finger on the touch panel or move from the contact start position toward the contact end position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the display device is capable of displaying an image for operation, and
the second instruction input is an instruction input by an operation method of operating the touch panel with the image for operation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second operation control includes operation control for bringing the bending section into a state in which a bending angle of the bending section is fixed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first operation control includes operation control for releasing a state in which the bending angle of the bending section is fixed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second instruction input is an instruction input by an operation method of stroking the touch panel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second instruction input is an instruction input by an operation method of tapping the touch panel.

### Claim 10

An operation control method for an endoscope apparatus comprising:
determining whether a first instruction input by an operation section including at least one operation device is detected;
performing first operation control on a bendable bending section provided in an insertion section when determining that the first instruction input is detected;
determining whether a second instruction input by a touch panel provided in a display device configured to display an endoscopic image obtained by picking up an image of an object with an image pickup section is detected; and
performing second operation control different from the first operation control on the bending section when determining that the second instruction input is detected.

### Claim 11

A storage medium having an operation control program for an endoscope apparatus stored therein, the operation control program causing a computer to execute:
a code for determining whether a first instruction input by an operation section is detected;
a code for performing first operation control on a bending section when determining that the first instruction input is detected;
a code for determining whether a second instruction input by a touch panel is detected; and
a code for performing second operation control different from the first operation control on the bending section when determining that the second instruction input is detected.