Abstract: An movement assistance system includes a processor. The processor detects a position in picked-up images of an image of an image pickup target, causes a memory to store the position, estimates a change in the position of the image pickup target, estimates the position of the image pickup target and performs control for causing a display apparatus to display an estimation result of the position of the image pickup target, when detecting a disappearance state in which the image of the image pickup target is not detected, and performs control for causing the display apparatus not to display the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target when detecting, after the image pickup target is brought into the disappearance state, that a position indicated by the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target is a position inside an output determination region.

Abstract: An insertion support system includes a state acquisition apparatus configured to acquire first information. The first information includes at least one of: a plurality of pieces of position information related to a plurality of positions of an insertion section to be inserted into an insertion target body; and a plurality of pieces of direction vector information in a longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section. The insertion support system also includes a support information calculator configured to calculate second information related to a rotation quantity of the insertion section based on the first information, and an output section configured to output the second information.

Abstract: An insertion system having a processor including hardware, configured to: determine, for each of a plurality of times, one or more positions of an insertion section configured to be inserted into an insertion subject; determine, for the each of the plurality of times, state of the insertion section relative to the insertion subject based on the one or more positions for the each of the plurality of times; determine, for the each of the plurality of times, whether an attention state of the insertion section that restricts insertion of the insertion section into the insertion subject has occurred, based on the state of the insertion section relative to the insertion subject determined; and control a monitor to display attention state information indicating the one or more positions of the insertion section at which the occurrence of the attention state of the insertion section is determined over the plurality of times.

Abstract: An endoscopic examination supporting apparatus includes at least one processor including hardware. The processor acquires insertion shape information indicating an insertion shape of an insertion section of an endoscope inserted into a subject, evaluates, based on the insertion shape information, a procedure including inserting operation for the insertion section performed by a user who operates the endoscope during an endoscopic examination, and generates procedure evaluation information.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a processor. The processor detects an image pickup scene based on a picked-up image acquired by an image pickup apparatus disposed in an insertion section included in an endoscope and calculates operation information corresponding to the image pickup scene using an approach of machine learning.

Abstract: An insertion system includes an insertion section and a rigidity variable portion provided in the insertion section. The rigidity variable portion includes a superelastic alloy member whose rigidity starts changing from a high-rigidity state to a low-rigidity state at a temperature, which varies with a degree of bending of the superelastic alloy member, and a heating member capable of switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member. The insertion system also includes a bending state detection sensor that detects a bending state of the rigidity variable portion, and a rigidity variable controller that controls switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member by the heating member to control the temperature of the superelastic alloy member.

Abstract: An movement assistance system includes a processor. The processor detects a position in picked-up images of an image of an image pickup target, causes a memory to store the position, estimates a change in the position of the image pickup target, estimates the position of the image pickup target and performs control for causing a display apparatus to display an estimation result of the position of the image pickup target, when detecting a disappearance state in which the image of the image pickup target is not detected, and performs control for causing the display apparatus not to display the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target when detecting, after the image pickup target is brought into the disappearance state, that a position indicated by the estimation result of the position of the image pickup target is a position inside an output determination region.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes: a flexible tube; a stiffness control system configured to control a stiffness of the tube; a buckling detection system configured to detect occurrence of a buckling in the tube; a pulling operation detection system configured to detect that a pulling operation of the tube is performed, after detection of the occurrence of the buckling; and a storage configured to store position information of a stiffness-to-be-enhanced portion of the tube neighboring a buckling portion of the tube and located on a distal side of the buckling portion. The stiffness control system is configured to enhance a stiffness of the stiffness-to-be-enhanced portion, based on the position information, at detection of the pulling operation.

Abstract: A recommended operation presentation system includes an insertion instrument including an insertion section to be inserted into an insertion object and an insertion section shape detector configured to detect shape information of the insertion section. The system also includes an attention state/operation control information arithmetic operator configured to calculate operation control information changing in association with an operation of the insertion instrument, based on the shape information and target state information, and a recommended operation arithmetic operator configured to calculate recommended operation information based on the operation control information.

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: An insertion support system includes a state acquisition apparatus configured to acquire first information. The first information includes at least one of: a plurality of pieces of position information related to a plurality of positions of an insertion section to be inserted into an insertion target body; and a plurality of pieces of direction vector information in a longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section. The insertion support system also includes a support information calculator configured to calculate second information related to a rotation quantity of the insertion section based on the first information, and an output section configured to output the second information.

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: An insertion system includes an insertion apparatus including an insertion section, a fiber sensor configured to detect a bend shape of the insertion section, an attitude detector, and an attitude shape calculator. The attitude detector is configured to detect at least one of a first rotational change quantity related to a change quantity of rotation about a longitudinal direction of the insertion apparatus, and a first directional change quantity related to a change quantity of the longitudinal direction. The attitude shape calculator is configured to calculate attitude shape information including at least one of a change quantity of rotation of the bend shape and a change quantity of a direction of the bend shape, based on the bend shape and the at least one of the first rotational change quantity and first directional change quantity.

Abstract: An insertion system having a processor including hardware, configured to: determine, for each of a plurality of times, one or more positions of an insertion section configured to be inserted into an insertion subject; determine, for the each of the plurality of times, state of the insertion section relative to the insertion subject based on the one or more positions for the each of the plurality of times; determine, for the each of the plurality of times, whether an attention state of the insertion section that restricts insertion of the insertion section into the insertion subject has occurred, based on the state of the insertion section relative to the insertion subject determined; and control a monitor to display attention state information indicating the one or more positions of the insertion section at which the occurrence of the attention state of the insertion section is determined over the plurality of times.

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 apparatus includes a flexible insert section inserted into an insertion target and a curved-shape detection sensor which detects a curved shape of the insert section. The curved-shape detection sensor includes at least a core, a cladding, a coating, and a sensing part mechanically attached to the core and detecting the curved shape. The optical fiber is disposed at least in the insert section. The optical fiber includes at least one displacement restraint section which directly or indirectly restrains a displacement of the sensing part relative to the insert section.

Abstract: An insertion system includes an insertion section and a rigidity variable portion provided in the insertion section. The rigidity variable portion includes a superelastic alloy member whose rigidity starts changing from a high-rigidity state to a low-rigidity state at a temperature, which varies with a degree of bending of the superelastic alloy member, and a heating member capable of switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member. The insertion system also includes a bending state detection sensor that detects a bending state of the rigidity variable portion, and a rigidity variable controller that controls switching between presence and absence of heating of the superelastic alloy member by the heating member to control the temperature of the superelastic alloy member.

Abstract: To accurately recognize the position and direction of an insertion member, there is provided an insertion system which detects operation support information such as an insertion amount and a rotation amount of the insertion member, and the position and shape of the distal end thereof.

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: An insertion system includes an insertion apparatus including an insertion section, a fiber sensor configured to detect a bend shape of the insertion section, an attitude detector, and an attitude shape calculator. The attitude detector is configured to detect at least one of a first rotational change quantity related to a change quantity of rotation about a longitudinal direction of the insertion apparatus, and a first directional change quantity related to a change quantity of the longitudinal direction. The attitude shape calculator is configured to calculate attitude shape information including at least one of a change quantity of rotation of the bend shape and a change quantity of a direction of the bend shape, based on the bend shape and the at least one of the first rotational change quantity and first directional change quantity.