ENDOSCOPE SHAPE DETERMINING APPARATUS

摘要

A drive block includes a plurality of magnetic field generating elements and a drive signal generating part that supplies drive signals to the plurality of magnetic field generating elements to generate magnetic fields. The magnetic fields generated by the plurality of magnetic field generating elements are detected by a plurality of magnetic field detecting elements constituting a detecting block. A shape calculating block calculates, from the frequency components, which correspond to the frequency of the drive signals, in the detection signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field detecting elements, the positions of the plurality of magnetic field generating elements or the plurality of magnetic field detecting elements disposed in an insertion part where an endoscope is inserted, thereby calculating the shape of the insertion part. The oscillation frequency of a reference clock, which decides the frequency of the drive signals, can be changed and established by a frequency establishing part. The reference clock of the oscillation frequency established by the frequency establishing part is supplied not only to the drive block but also to the shape calculating block.