PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shape sensor which is not easily influenced by torsion or the like and is capable of measuring a curved shape only in a desired curvature direction.SOLUTION: A shape sensor including: a light source 102 shape measuring optical fibers 2a to 2d capable of propagating desired detection light applied from the light source 102 an object 104 to be detected arranged on a part of the optical fibers 2a to 2d and a light receiving part (light detection part) 105 for detecting the detection light propagated through the optical fibers 2a to 2d and capable of measuring a shape of an object to be measured by utilizing that characteristics of light detected through the light receiving part 105 are changed in accordance with changes in radiuses of curvature of the optical fibers 2a to 2d includes also curvature direction regulation parts 9 at least partially arranged along an optical axis direction of the optical fibers 2a to 2d and capable of regulating curving available directions of the optical fibers 2a to 2d to desired directions.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】本発明は、ねじれ等の影響を受け難い、所望の湾曲方向のみの湾曲形状を測定可能な形状センサを提供することである。【解決手段】光源102と、前記光源102から照射される所望の検出光を伝搬可能な形状測定用の光ファイバ2a~2dと、前記光ファイバ2a~2dの一部に配置された被検出部104と、前記光ファイバ2a~2dを通して伝搬された前記検出光を検出する受光部(光検出部)105とを有し、前記光ファイバ2a~2dの湾曲時に、前記光ファイバ2a~2dの曲率の変化に応じて、受光部105を経て検出される光の特性が変化することを利用して被測定物の形状を測定可能な形状センサであって、前記光ファイバ2a~2dの光軸方向に沿って少なくとも1部に設けられ、前記光ファイバ2a~2dの湾曲可能方向を所望の方向に規制する湾曲方向規制部9を有する。【選択図】図1
