PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can accurately detect the bend angle of a flexible tube in an insertion portion and is suitable for a reduction in diameter of the flexible tube in the insertion portion.SOLUTION: The endoscope device comprises a bendable flexible tube 12 in the insertion portion and a wire 22 that is displaceable in a longitudinal direction. The wire 22 is inserted into the flexible tube 12 in the insertion portion and is coupled to a front end 14 of the flexible tube 12 in the insertion portion. Four rotating bodies are in pressure-contact with the wire 22 to detect the bend angle of the flexible tube 12 in the insertion portion. When the wire 22 is displaced in a longitudinal direction, the rotating bodies are rotated. The amount of rotation of the rotating bodies is detected by a rod member that is fixed to and rotated integrally with the rotating bodies. The amount of rotation of the rod member is converted to the bend angle of the flexible tube 12 in the insertion portion.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】挿入部可撓管の正確な湾曲角度を検出し、かつ、挿入部可撓管の細径化に適した内視鏡を提供する。【解決手段】内視鏡装置は、湾曲自在な挿入部可撓管12と、長手方向に変位可能なワイヤ22とを備える。ワイヤ22は、挿入部可撓管12の内部に挿通されて、挿入部可撓管12の先端部14に連結されている。また、挿入部可撓管12の湾曲角度を検出するために、4つの回転体がワイヤ22に圧接して設けられている。ワイヤ22が長手方向に変位すると、回転体が回転する。回転体の回転量は、回転体に固定され一体となって回転する棒状部材によって検出され、棒状部材の回転量は挿入部可撓管12の湾曲角度に変換される。【選択図】図2
