Abstract: A manipulator system including a manipulator that includes an insertion part having a main section and a bending section, a bending-section driving portion, and a linear member inserted through a sheath fixed to the main section at one end thereof, the linear member connecting the bending section and the bending-section driving portion through the main section and transmitting a driving force generated by the bending-section driving portion to the bending section; an operation input unit via which an operation instruction to the bending section is input; a sheath-tension detecting portion that detects the tension in the sheath; a compensation-value setting portion that sets a compensation value for a bending control signal on the basis of the tension in the sheath, and a control unit that generates the bending control signal and sends the bending control signal corrected with the compensation value to the bending-section driving portion.

Abstract: A manipulator-device controlling method including: a step of receiving manipulation signals for manipulators; a step of calculating a target position of a joint on the basis of the manipulation signals; steps of calculating a maximum distance between the manipulators when the joint is assumed to be placed at the target position; a step of comparing the maximum distance with a predetermined threshold; a step of moving the joint to the target position in the case in which the maximum distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold; and a step of stopping the movement of the joint in the case in which the maximum distance is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The endoscope treatment system includes an endoscope treatment tool that has an operating part having a distal end and a proximal end, and a sheath that is connected to the distal end of the operating part and is formed with a lumen through that enables a guide wire to be inserted therethrough; a guide wire holder around which a tube member housing the guide wire is wound circumferentially; and a fixing member that couples the operating part to the guide wire holder such that the distal end and the proximal end of the operating part are located outside the circumference of the guide wire holder.

Abstract: A medical manipulator system including: a manipulator with a flexible insertion portion, a movable part at a distal end of the insertion portion, a detachable drive unit at a proximal end of the insertion portion, and a pair of tension transmission members transmitting a driving force generated in the drive unit to move the movable part; an input unit inputting an operation command for the manipulator; and a control unit controlling the drive unit based on the input operation command, the drive unit having a displacement sensor detecting displacement direction and amount of the tension transmission members and a tension-difference sensor detecting a tension difference between the tension transmission members, the control unit has a storage unit storing characteristics of the tension transmission members and a setting unit setting a control parameter for controlling the drive unit based on the characteristics and the detected tension difference, displacement amount and direction.

Abstract: Provided is a manipulator system including: a manipulator that has an insertion section composed of a flexible section and a bending section and that has a bending-section drive unit for driving the bending section; an operation input unit; a flexible-section shape detecting unit and a bending-section shape detecting unit that detect curved shapes of the flexible section and the bending section, respectively; compensation-value setting units that set a compensation value on the basis of the curved shape detected by each of the shape detecting units; and a control unit that generates a curvature control signal for driving the bending-section drive unit according to an operating instruction input via the operation input unit and furthermore corrects the curvature control signal using the compensation value and transmits it to the bending-section drive unit.

Abstract: A medical manipulator including: a rotating joint that rotates an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof about a first axis; a flexing joint that is disposed on a base-end side of the rotating joint and that pivots the end effector about a second axis that intersects the first axis; a drive portion that generates a rotational driving force; a motive-power transmitting member that transmits the rotational driving force generated by the drive portion to the rotating joint by passing through the flexing joint; and a speed-reduction portion that transmits the rotational driving force transmitted thereto by the motive-power transmitting member to the end effector after performing speed-reduction.

Abstract: A position detection sensor includes: a linear member; a conductive portion and an insulating portion provided in an outer periphery of the linear member and arranged side by side in a direction of an axis of the linear member; a support member having insulating properties and provided so as to be capable of being relatively advanced or retracted in the direction of the axis with respect to the conductive portion and the insulating portion; and a conductive contact member attached to the support member and configured such that a distal end of the contact member comes in contact with outer surfaces of the conductive portion and the insulating portion by a biasing force toward the outer surfaces of the conductive portion and the insulating portion.

Abstract: A detector-equipped treatment tool including: a distal-end treatment portion that applies a force to and treats biological tissue; a proximal-end portion that supports the distal-end treatment portion so as to be relatively movable; a detector that is disposed in a cavity provided inside of the distal-end treatment portion and detects the force; wiring that is connected to the detector; and a duct that is connected to the distal-end treatment portion and guides the wiring led out of the distal-end treatment portion from the detector in the cavity to the proximal-end portion.

Abstract: A treatment tool of which a treatment unit operates with a driving force generated from a driving source includes a driving force transmission member that is connected to the driving source, a connecting portion that is formed in the treatment unit, that is connected to the driving wire, that is supplied with the driving force from the driving source via the driving force transmission member, and that converts the driving force into movement of the treatment unit, and a member for detecting amount of movement that is moved by the connecting portion.

Abstract: A medical manipulator is provided with: a drive unit provided with a motor; a removable portion that is removably attached to the drive unit and that is provided with a rotating body to be connected to a rotating shaft of the motor; an elongated insertion portion coupled to the removable portion; a distal-end movable part disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion; a wire connecting the rotating body and the distal-end movable part and transferring tension generated by power of the motor to the distal-end movable part to actuate the distal-end movable part; a pressing member that is formed of an elastic material and that presses a longitudinal intermediate position of the wire in the wire diameter direction; and a sensor that is attached to the pressing member and that detects an elastic deformation amount caused in the pressing member according to the tension of the wire.

Abstract: A medical manipulator is equipped with a manipulation input unit by which an operator performs a manipulation input, and a treatment tool that is driven in accordance with the manipulation input. The medical manipulator includes a storage unit having correspondence information used when a driving signal that drives the treatment tool is generated in accordance with the manipulation input. The storage unit is disposed at the manipulation input unit.

Abstract: A method of setting a medical system, in which at least one treatment tool and at least one manipulation input unit for manipulating the treatment tool are connectable to each other, includes acquiring first information capable of identifying the treatment tool and second information capable of identifying the manipulation input unit, associating the treatment tool with the manipulation input unit on the basis of a comparison between the first information and the second information, and associating an input to the manipulation input unit with an operation of the treatment tool with respect to the manipulation input unit associated with the treatment tool on the basis of the comparison between the first information and the second information.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manipulator includes a joint structure portion having one or more joints connected to a distal end of an insertion portion, a power transmission member inserted into the insertion portion to transmit driving force to the joint structure portion, and a driving portion that drives the power transmission member and which is guided to an application site by being inserted into the channel member. When the manipulator is operated in an insertion control mode for inserting the joint structure portion into the channel member, the method includes detecting a load amount generated in the power transmission member or the driving portion; and creating a bending state in which the joint structure portion follows the channel member by controlling a driving amount of the power transmission member by the driving portion such that the load amount becomes within a predetermined target control range.

Abstract: A medical system includes a treatment tool including a treatment portion, a joint portion, a flexible tube portion, and a drive unit; an endoscope device including an outer sheath that holds the treatment tool and an imaging unit that is capable of acquiring an image including at least the joint portion; and a control unit that controls an operation of the treatment tool. The control unit includes a table that has a parameter for causing the joint portion to move, a controller that issues a command for controlling the drive unit based on the parameter to the drive unit, an image processing unit that calculates at least one of a position and an orientation of the joint portion based on the image, and a compensation value calculating unit that detects displacement of the joint portion, generates a compensation value, and incorporates the compensation value into the parameter.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a manipulator including a joint portion, a drive unit that generates a driving force for driving the joint portion, and a driving force transmission member that is inserted into a tubular member and transmits the driving force generated from the drive unit to the joint portion includes: an arrangement step of arranging the manipulator in a usable state; a load-measuring step of issuing an operation command based on a predetermined calibrating drive pattern to the drive unit and measuring a load generated in the manipulator at that time; and a control parameter-setting step of setting a main-driving control parameter based on the load measured in the load-measuring step.

Abstract: A medical system includes: a treatment tool including a treatment portion configured to treat a living body, a joint portion configured to move the treatment portion, a first indicator portion provided to correspond to a position of the joint portion, a sheath portion connected to the joint portion, and a driving portion connected to the sheath portion and configured to displace the joint portion; an overtube including a flexible tube portion having a distal end and a proximal end and holding the treatment tool such that the treatment portion is capable of protruding from the distal end, and a second indicator portion provided at the flexible tube portion to identify a predefined space where calibration of the treatment tool is performed; and a calibration mechanism configured to calibrate the treatment tool when the first and second indicator portions have a predetermined positional relationship.

Abstract: Provided is a manipulator system including: a flexible inserted portion; a manipulator that has a joint portion that is driven at the distal end of the inserted portion; a drive portion that drives the joint portion on the basal-end side of the inserted portion; a shape estimating portion that estimates the shape of the inserted portion; and a control portion that controls the drive portion based on the shape of the estimated inserted portion, wherein the shape estimating portion is provided with detection targets that are arranged, with spaces therebetween, in the inserted portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a position detection portion that detects three-dimensional positions of the detection targets, and a shape calculating portion that calculates, on the basis of the three-dimensional positions of the detected detection targets, the shape of the inserted portion by dividing the inserted portion into sections in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A manipulator-device controlling method including: a step of receiving manipulation signals for manipulators; a step of calculating a target position of a joint on the basis of the manipulation signals; steps of calculating a maximum distance between the manipulators when the joint is assumed to be placed at the target position; a step of comparing the maximum distance with a predetermined threshold; a step of moving the joint to the target position in the case in which the maximum distance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold; and a step of stopping the movement of the joint in the case in which the maximum distance is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A manipulator and manipulator system in which a dynamic surplus is rapidly removed and a moving part actuates rapidly in association with the operation of an operating part. The manipulator includes an operating part operated by an operator, a moving part operated by the operating part, a transmitting part for coupling the operating part to the moving part to transmit driving force of the operating part to the moving part, a transmission compensating part for making up for a dynamic surplus occurring in the transmitting part in association with the operation of the operating part, an input part for acquiring a state of at least one of the operating, moving and transmitting part, and a control unit for controlling the transmission compensating part depending on the state acquired by the input part.

Abstract: Provided is a manipulator system including: a manipulator that has a treatment tool, an insertion portion having a plurality of channels, and treatment-tool driving parts that move the treatment tool forward/backward and/or rotate the treatment tool in the corresponding channel; an operation input unit to which an operation instruction is input; a channel-in-use detecting part that detects the channel into which the treatment tool has been inserted; a compensation-value setting unit that sets a compensation value on the basis of the channel detected by the channel-in-use detecting part; and a control unit that generates a control signal according to the operation instruction, compensates the generated control signal by using the compensation value, and sends the compensated control signal to the treatment-tool driving part.