| 摘要 |
An endoscope having excellent operability of changing the shape of a bend is achieved and having enhanced response. A bend (27) near the forward end of an insertion section is constructed from an EPAM actuator (28). When an instruction for bending to a desired direction, for example, an upward direction, is issued by a bending amount instruction means (81), a bending amount control means (80) drives an EPAM drive means (78u) according to the instruction, applying a drive voltage across electrodes (74u, 75) to bend the EPAM actuator (28) upward. When the bending amount instruction means (81) is instructed to perform straightening operation for canceling the upward bending, a reverse instruction detection means (80a) detects the instruction, applying a drive voltage for downward bending to quickly set the EPAM actuator (28) to the instructed state.
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