Guiding apparatus for guiding an insertable body within an inspected object

A combination of an insertable body and a guiding apparatus for guiding the insertable body within an inspected object, comprising:

• an insertable body to be inserted into an inspected object;
• a guided part provided in at least a part of said insertable body, to be magnetically guided and including a coreless coil generating a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through the coil;
• a current passing means for passing a current through said coreless coil;
• a guiding means outside said inspected object for at least two-dimensionally and magnetically guiding said guided part, said guiding means including a base, a first support connected to said base and which is movable in a first predetermined horizontal direction relative to base, and a second support connected to said first support and which is movable in a second predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, said second predetermined horizontal direction being perpendicular to said first predetermined horizontal direction, and a movable guiding part mounted on said second support for movement therewith for guiding said guided part, said guided part and guiding part generating a magnetic force acting therebetween, and said guiding part guiding said guided part with said magnetic force.

A combination of an insertable body and a guiding apparatus for guiding the insertable body within an inspected object, comprising:

• an insertable body to be inserted into an inspected object;
• a guided part to be magnetically guided, provided in at least a part of said insertable part and including a magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field;
• a guiding means for at least two-dimensionally and magnetically guiding said guided part and provided outside said inspected object, said guiding means including a base, a first support connected to said base and which is movable in a first predetermined horizontal direction horizontal relative to said base, a second support connected to said first support and which is movable in a second predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, said second predetermined horizontal direction being perpendicular to said first predetermined horizontal direction, and a guiding part mounted on said second support for movement therewith for guiding said guided part, said guided part and guiding part generating a magnetic force acting therebetween and said guiding part guiding said guided part with said magnetic force;
• and
• a position detecting means for detecting an at least two-dimensional position of said guided part, including a magnetic field detecting means for detecting a magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generating means to detect the position of said guided part.

A combination of an insertable body and a guiding apparatus for guiding the insertable body within an inspected object, comprising:

• an insertable body to be inserted into an inspected object;
• a guided part provided in at least a part of said insertable body and to be magnetically guided;
• and
• a guiding means outside said inspected object for at least two-dimensionally and magnetically guiding said guided part, said guiding means including a base, a first support connected to said base and which is movable in a first predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, a second support connected to said first support and which is movable in a second predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, said second predetermined horizontal direction being perpendicular to said first predetermined horizontal direction, and a guiding part mounted on said second support for movement therewith for guiding said guided part, said guided part and guiding part generating a magnetic force acting therebetween, and said guiding part guiding said guided part with said magnetic force;
• and
• a position detecting means for detecting an at least two-dimensional position of said guided part within said inspected object.

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an endoscope including an elongate insertable part having a tip part and an observing window provided in said tip part and to be inserted into an inspected object and an observing means for receiving a light received from said inspected object through said observing window and for obtaining an image of said inspected object;
• a guided part provided in at least a part of said insertable part and to be magnetically guided;
• and
• guiding means outside said inspected object for magnetically guiding said guided part, said guiding means including a base, a first support connected to said base and which is movable in a first predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, a second support connected to said first support and which is movable in a second predetermined horizontal direction relative to said base, said second predetermined horizontal direction being perpendicular to said first predetermined horizontal direction, a guiding part mounted on said second support for movement therewith for guiding said guided part, and driving means for moving said guiding part at least two-dimensionally, said guided part and guiding part generating a magnetic force acting therebetween, and said guiding part guiding said guided part with said magnetic force.