Abstract: A rigidity variable apparatus includes: a rigidity variable member having a cylindrical shape, a bending rigidity of the rigidity variable member increasing by being heated; a heater having a cylindrical shape and arranged along the rigidity variable member on an inside of the rigidity variable member in a radial direction, the heater being configured to heat the rigidity variable member; a filler arranged so as to fill a gap between the heater and the rigidity variable member in the radial direction, the filler being configured to transfer heat from the heater to the rigidity variable member; and a tube arranged along the heater on an inside of the heater in the radial direction.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a shape-memory unit formed of at least two hollow shape-memory members connected together. Each of the shape-memory members is transitionable in phase between a first phase in which the shape-memory member is in a low stiffness state and a second phase in which the shape-memory member is in a high stiffness state. The shape-memory member in the high stiffness state has a higher level of stiffness than in the low stiffness state. Hollow portions of the shape-memory members are connected together so that the shape-memory unit has a lumen-like inner space configured to allow fluid for cooling the shape-memory members to flow. The variable stiffness device also includes a heating member configured to heat the shape-memory members.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member, and a second elongated member movable along the first member. The first member includes first high bending stiffness sections, first low bending stiffness sections, and a reinforcement member reinforcing a strength of the first member. The reinforcement member includes a contact coil formed of a first wire spirally wound around a longitudinal axis of the reinforcement member, and a stranded tube formed of second wires that are twisted around each other. The second member includes a second high bending stiffness section, and a second low bending stiffness section. The second member is configured to move inside the reinforcement member, thereby changing a stiffness of the variable stiffness device.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member including high-bending stiffness portions and a low-bending stiffness portion between adjacent high-bending stiffness portions, a second elongated member arranged along the first elongated member and including shape-memory members and a connecting member between adjacent shape-memory members, a heater to heat a shape-memory member in the low-bending stiffness portion to increase the bending stiffness, and a moving mechanism to move the second elongated member relative to the first elongated member. When the heater heats a first shape-memory member in the low-bending stiffness portion, a second shape-memory member next to the first shape-memory member is arranged in a high-bending stiffness portion.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a flexible member and a variable stiffness apparatus installed in the flexible member. The variable stiffness apparatus includes a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member movable along the first longitudinal member. The first longitudinal member includes a first high bending stiffness portion and a first low bending stiffness portion. The second longitudinal member includes a second high bending stiffness portion, a second low bending stiffness portion, and a soft member arranged in the second high bending stiffness portion and the second low bending stiffness portion. Stiffness of part of the variable stiffness apparatus in a longitudinal axis direction is varied by changing a relative position of the first and second longitudinal members.

Abstract: A variable stiffness apparatus to be installed in a flexible member includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member arranged along the first elongated member, and an inducing member. The first elongated member includes a high bending stiffness portion, and a low bending stiffness portion. The second elongated member includes a shape-memory member that takes a low-stiffness state when in a first phase and a high-stiffness state when in a second phase. The inducing member causes a region of the shape memory member that is arranged around the low bending stiffness portion to transition in phase between the first phase and the second phase, so as to change the stiffness of the region of the second elongated member.

Abstract: A rigidity variable apparatus includes: one or a plurality of coil units including a spiral-shaped coil portion in which a plurality of SMA element wires made of a shape-memory alloy are wound around an axis at a first pitch in a state where the SMA element wires are overlapped with each other in a predetermined axis direction, each of the SMA element wires memorizing a spiral shape with a pitch narrower than the first pitch, one of the plurality of SMA element wires starting to deform to the memorized spiral shape with a predetermined pitch when at a predetermined temperature or higher, another of the plurality of SMA element wires starting to deform to the spiral shape with a different pitch; and an electrothennal heater configured to heat the coil portion.

Abstract: An insertion device includes: an insertion portion; a shape memory alloy tube provided in the insertion portion such that a distal end is located on a side of one end of the insertion portion and a proximal end is located on a side of another end of the insertion portion, the shape memory alloy tube being configured to serve as a conduit through which a refrigerant flows from a side of the distal end toward a side of the proximal end; a heater configured to heat the shape memory alloy tube; and a refrigerant supply tube configured to supply the refrigerant to the distal end of the shape memory alloy tube by causing the refrigerant to flow from the proximal end side toward the distal end side of the shape memory alloy tube, the refrigerant supply tube being disposed inside the shape memory alloy tube.

Abstract: The light adjustment apparatus of the present embodiment comprises a light adjustment part, a rotation axis body that supports a rotation arm that places and removes the light adjustment part in and out of a light path by swinging, and has a magnet installed therein, an electromagnetic drive source that forms a magnetic circuit including the rotation axis body on the circuit, and works an electromagnetic force on the magnet to rotate a rotational axis of the rotation axis body, and a float prevention part that magnetically restricts the rotation axis body, and prevents the rotation axis body from floating towards an axial direction of the rotational axis when the rotation axis body is rotated.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a shape-memory unit formed of at least two hollow shape-memory members connected together. Each of the shape-memory members is transitionable in phase between a first phase in which the shape-memory member is in a low stiffness state and a second phase in which the shape-memory member is in a high stiffness state. The shape-memory member in the high stiffness state has a higher level of stiffness than in the low stiffness state. Hollow portions of the shape-memory members are connected together so that the shape-memory unit has a lumen-like inner space configured to allow fluid for cooling the shape-memory members to flow. The variable stiffness device also includes a heating member configured to heat the shape-memory members.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member, and a second elongated member movable along the first member. The first member includes first high bending stiffness sections, first low bending stiffness sections, and a reinforcement member reinforcing a strength of the first member. The reinforcement member includes a contact coil formed of a first wire spirally wound around a longitudinal axis of the reinforcement member, and a stranded tube formed of second wires that are twisted around each other. The second member includes a second high bending stiffness section, and a second low bending stiffness section. The second member is configured to move inside the reinforcement member, thereby changing a stiffness of the variable stiffness device.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a flexible member and a variable stiffness apparatus installed in the flexible member. The variable stiffness apparatus includes a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member movable along the first longitudinal member. The first longitudinal member includes a first high bending stiffness portion and a first low bending stiffness portion. The second longitudinal member includes a second high bending stiffness portion, a second low bending stiffness portion, and a soft member arranged in the second high bending stiffness portion and the second low bending stiffness portion. Stiffness of part of the variable stiffness apparatus in a longitudinal axis direction is varied by changing a relative position of the first and second longitudinal members.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member including high-bending stiffness portions and a low-bending stiffness portion between adjacent high-bending stiffness portions, a second elongated member arranged along the first elongated member and including shape-memory members and a connecting member between adjacent shape-memory members, a heater to heat a shape-memory member in the low-bending stiffness portion to increase the bending stiffness, and a moving mechanism to move the second elongated member relative to the first elongated member. When the heater heats a first shape-memory member in the low-bending stiffness portion, a second shape-memory member next to the first shape-memory member is arranged in a high-bending stiffness portion.

Abstract: A variable stiffness apparatus to be installed in a flexible member includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member arranged along the first elongated member, and an inducing member. The first elongated member includes a high bending stiffness portion, and a low bending stiffness portion. The second elongated member includes a shape-memory member that takes a low-stiffness state when in a first phase and a high-stiffness state when in a second phase. The inducing member causes a region of the shape memory member that is arranged around the low bending stiffness portion to transition in phase between the first phase and the second phase, so as to change the stiffness of the region of the second elongated member.

Abstract: The light adjustment apparatus of the present embodiment comprises a light adjustment part, a rotation axis body that supports a rotation arm that places and removes the light adjustment part in and out of a light path by swinging, and has a magnet installed therein, an electromagnetic drive source that forms a magnetic circuit including the rotation axis body on the circuit, and works an electromagnetic force on the magnet to rotate a rotational axis of the rotation axis body, and a float prevention part that magnetically restricts the rotation axis body, and prevents the rotation axis body from floating towards an axial direction of the rotational axis when the rotation axis body is rotated.

Abstract: A light control device that performs, on an optical path of a light, optical control with respect to the light, comprises a blade, a rotary shaft member, a light control element, an upper substrate, and a lower substrate. The upper substrate is provided perpendicular to the rotary shaft member on one end of the rotary shaft member, has a first side surface positioned on the optical path side, and is formed to define a first space lateral to the first side surface and above a blade. The lower substrate is provided perpendicular to the rotary shaft member on other end of the rotary shaft member, has a second side surface positioned on the optical path side, and is formed to define a second space lateral to the second side surface and below the blade.

Abstract: A light adjusting apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a spacer configured to form a space for disposing a light adjusting section between the first substrate and the second substrate, a notch provided so that measuring light to measure a space dimension reaches the spacer and an extending peripheral portion provided so that the measuring light reaches the second substrate.

Abstract: A light adjusting apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a spacer configured to form a space for disposing a light adjusting section between the first substrate and the second substrate, a notch provided so that measuring light to measure a space dimension reaches the spacer and an extending peripheral portion provided so that the measuring light reaches the second substrate.

Abstract: A variable hardness actuator includes a first flexible member to which a first electrode is fixed, a second flexible member disposed to be opposed to the first flexible member, a second electrode being fixed to the second flexible member, an insulating member configured to insulate the electrodes, a driving section configured to apply voltages to the electrodes, and an instructing section configured to instruct the driving section to apply a voltage. When the driving section applies the voltage according to the instruction from the instructing section, electrostatic attraction is generated between the electrodes and a frictional force is generated between the flexible members. The flexible members integrally harden against a bending force from an outside.

Abstract: Incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit (130) alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture (102 and 122), and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture by moving the light control unit by the drive unit (132 and 150), and when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate.