Abstract: A shape calculating apparatus includes a light source and a light guide provided with detection targets to decrease quantity of light guided by the light guide according to a bend shape of the light guide. The apparatus also includes a light detector to detect light quantity information in wavelengths included in light absorption spectra of the detection targets, a calculation unit that makes a calculation relating to a shape of each detection target based on the light quantity information, and a control unit that changes a dynamic range of at least one of an intensity of light input to the light guide and a detection signal output by the light detector for each wavelength range so that a magnitude of the detection signal is within a range between a lower limit threshold and an upper limit threshold of the light detector.

Abstract: A shape calculating apparatus includes a light source, an optical fiber provided with detection targets. The detection targets have mutually different light absorption spectra to decrease a quantity of light propagated by the fiber in accordance with a bend shape of the fiber. The apparatus also includes a light detector to detect light quantity information at wavelengths included in the light absorption spectra, a calculator to execute a calculation relating to a shape of each detection target based on the light quantity information. The apparatus further includes a setting change unit to change, with respect to each of the wavelengths, a dynamic range of at least either an intensity of light input to the optical fiber or an electric signal generated by the detector.

Abstract: A curvature sensor is to be mounted along detection target to allow a curvature of the detection target. The sensor includes a light source, a light guide to guide light from the light source and sensing parts having light absorbability. The sensing parts include absorption bands having different intrinsic absorption patterns and characteristic absorption bands having intrinsic characteristic absorption patterns in the absorption bands. A light detector allows residual light not absorbed by the characteristic absorption bands to be detected, the residual light being included in light of bands corresponding to the characteristic absorption bands and radiated to the sensing parts from the light source. A calculator computes a curvature of the detection target based on a rate of change in the residual light.

Abstract: A tubular insertion system includes an insertion unit including a bendable portion, a bending operation mechanism that operates the bendable portion. The tubular insertion system further includes a bending operation amount detection/calculation device that calculates bending operation amount information, a bent shape detection/calculation device that calculates bent shape information, and a first operation support information acquisition unit that acquires first operation support information based on at least one of the bending operation amount information and the bent shape information.

Abstract: Sensing parts are formed in different directions in a circumferential direction in substantially a same position in the longitudinal direction thereof. Each sensing part is configured to include an optical characteristic changing member which generates the optical signals having absorption wavelength characteristic regions that vary from sensing part to sensing part by giving an optical characteristic change, which differs from that of other sensing parts, to the sensor light incident thereon in accordance with an amount of bending in a specific direction. A light detector detects the optical signals included in sensor light from a light source, which has passed through the sensing parts and undergone the optical characteristic change.

Abstract: A bend information computation apparatus is to compute bend information representing a direction and a magnitude of bend of a target group including targets disposed at an identical position along a light guide. Each target modulates the intensity of guided light in accordance with the direction and magnitude of bend.

Abstract: A insertion/removal apparatus comprises an insertion section with flexibility which is inserted into a target object to perform a desired operation, a shape sensor, an insertion section shape calculator, and a direct manipulation information estimation circuit. The shape sensor detects bending of the insertion section and outputs a detection signal. The insertion section shape calculator which calculates insertion section shape information indicating a shape of the insertion section, based on the detection signal output from the shape sensor. The direct manipulation information estimation circuit which estimates direct manipulation information including at least one of an insertion/removal amount and a rotation amount of the insertion section inserted into and removed from the target object, based on the insertion section shape information.

Abstract: At least one optical fiber of a fiber sensor has sensing parts whose number is number of the anticipated inflection points+one or more, the anticipated inflection points being inflection points of a shape of a detection target range of a detection target. The number of the anticipated inflection points is decided based on one of a functional limit and a structural limit which limit a degree of freedom in a bending shape of the detection target. A space L1 between the anticipated inflection points is L1=r1·?1, wherein r1 is a curvature radius at a maximum bending of the detection target range of the detection target, ?1 is a central angle of an arc created by the space between the anticipated inflection points at the maximum bending, and ?1??/2.

Abstract: A bending detecting system includes a light guide, a first grating and a light detector. The light guide has elongated shape and is configured to guide an incident light in a propagating direction. The light guide includes a core and a cladding disposed around the core. The first grating is disposed in a boundary area, the boundary area including an outer surface of the core, and an adjacent area that is adjacent to the outer surface. The first grating includes a first periodic structure along the propagating direction with a first pitch, and is configured to generate a first diffracted light from the incident light. The light detector is configured to detect the first diffracted light from the first grating, and detect a bending of the light guide based upon an optical feature amount of the first diffracted light.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus in an endoscopic system includes a light source unit having lasers with different peak wavelengths, the lasers being divided by peak wavelength into narrow band light source groups, a color imaging unit that detects the illumination color of illumination light, a memory that stores an appropriate illumination color for each narrow band light source group, an output calculator that, for each narrow band light source group, compares the illumination color obtained upon light emission by the lasers belonging to the narrow band light source group with the appropriate illumination color of the narrow band light source group and calculates an appropriate output for each of the lasers belonging to the narrow band light source group, and a light source controller that controls the lasers on the basis of the calculated appropriate output.

Abstract: A system comprises a housing, a light source, a light guide configured to guide a light from the light source. The light guide includes a plurality of detection target configured to provide optical effect on the light in accordance with a bend state of the light guide. A light detector is configured to detect the light emitted from the light guide and provide information of the detected light. A communication unit is configured to transmit wirelessly the information of the detected light. The communication unit is disposed in the housing.

Abstract: A future shape estimation apparatus includes an insertion section, a shape sensor and an insertion section future shape estimation circuit. The insertion section has flexibility and is to be inserted into an observation target object. The shape sensor detects a bending state of the insertion section and outputs a detection signal. The insertion section future shape estimation circuit estimates a future shape of the insertion section after a predetermined lapse of time based on information acquired from the detection signal output from the shape sensor, and outputs the future shape as future estimation shape information.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to systems methods and computer program products for bend estimation. The system comprises a first and second light absorbers disposed at a substantially same position along an axis of a light guide and enabled to absorb first and second respective amounts of a plurality of wavelengths of a light transmitted along the light guide, a light detector enabled to detect respective intensities of the plurality of wavelengths of the light not absorbed by the first and second light absorbers, and a processor enabled to calculate a bend state of the light guide according to the detected intensities of the plurality of wavelengths of the light.

Abstract: A chlorine dioxide gas generating agent pack includes a chlorine dioxide gas generating agent containing a mixture of chlorite powder, gas generation control agent powder, moisture-absorbent powder, water-absorbent resin powder, and activating agent powder; and a gas-permeable film container permeable to water vapor and chlorine dioxide gas and containing the chlorine dioxide gas generating agent. This chlorine dioxide gas generating agent pack is suitable for being carried to a region where sterilization, disinfection and deodorization are required.

Abstract: A shape estimation device includes an input circuit, a storage circuit and an arithmetic circuit. The input circuit receives light amount information being a relationship between a wavelength and a light amount. The light amount information is acquired by using a sensor configured such that the light amount to be detected with respect to the wavelength corresponding to each of sensing parts varies in accordance with a shape of each sensing part. The storage circuit stores a light amount estimation relationship including a relationship among the shape, the wavelength and the light amount. The arithmetic circuit calculates a light amount estimation value by an optimization arithmetic operation such that the estimation value based on the light amount estimation relationship and the light amount information satisfy a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A shape estimation device includes an input circuit, a storage circuit and an arithmetic circuit. The input circuit receives light amount information being a relationship between a wavelength and a light amount. The light amount information is acquired by using a sensor configured such that the light amount to be detected with respect to the wavelength corresponding to each of sensing parts varies in accordance with a shape of each of the sensing parts. The storage circuit stores a relationship among the shape, the wavelength and the light amount with respect to each sensing part. The arithmetic circuit calculates the shape of each sensing part, based on the light amount information, and a light amount estimation value being a relationship between the wavelength and the light amount.

Abstract: A curvature sensor is to be mounted along detection target to allow a curvature of the detection target. The sensor includes a light source, a light guide to guide light from the light source and sensing parts having light absorbability. The sensing parts include absorption bands having different intrinsic absorption patterns and characteristic absorption bands having intrinsic characteristic absorption patterns in the absorption bands. A light detector allows residual light not absorbed by the characteristic absorption bands to be detected, the residual light being included in light of bands corresponding to the characteristic absorption bands and radiated to the sensing parts from the light source. A calculator computes a curvature of the detection target based on a rate of change in the residual light.

Abstract: A multipoint detection fiber sensor including a plurality of sensing parts at a plurality of positions is provided. The sensing parts are able to detect curve amounts respectively. The multipoint detection fiber sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged in an overall effective detection area that is an extent in which the multipoint detection fiber sensor detects curve amounts. Each of the optical fibers includes the plurality of sensing parts. The multipoint detection fiber sensor also includes a light source which supplies light to the optical fibers and a light receiver which receives light emitted through the optical fibers to which light is supplied. Furthermore, an insertion apparatus into which the multipoint detection fiber sensor is incorporated is provided.

Abstract: An insertion shape detection apparatus includes an insert portion having flexibility. The insert portion includes a shape estimation section where curved shape is estimated and a shape non-estimation section where curved shape is not estimated. The insertion shape detection apparatus includes a sensing part arranged only in the shape estimation section to detect the curved shape of the shape estimation section. Thus, the number of sensing parts is reduced and the increase in the diameter of the insert portion and complicated processing of curve information is avoided, while the curved shape of the insert portion in a section necessary to assist an endoscopic observation can be detected.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an illumination section, an imaging section, and an image processor. The illumination section includes an illumination unit configured to selectively emit illumination light rays of light wavelength bands different from each other, and an illumination switch controller which generates an illumination unit control signal corresponding to each of sets of emission patterns so that combinations of the light wavelength bands of the illumination light rays emitted from the illumination unit are different from each other and the illumination switch controller controlling the illumination unit so that the illumination light rays are sequentially emitted from the illumination unit in the sets of emission patterns different from each other.