Endoscope device and method and computer-readable storage device for controlling bending of endoscope device

1. An endoscope device comprising:

an insertion portion comprising a distal end;

an image sensor arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion, wherein the image sensor is configured to generate an imaging signal based on a subject image of a subject formed on the image sensor;

a bending actuator configured to bend the distal end of the insertion portion so as to change an imaging visual field of the image sensor; and

one or more processors comprising hardware, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform a control process comprising:

processing the imaging signal to generate image data of a display image of the subject to be displayed on a display;

setting a first measurement point and a second measurement point on the display image of the subject;

calculating a first subject distance from the first measurement point to a reference point of the image sensor, and a second subject distance from the second measurement point to the reference point of the image sensor;

calculating a difference value between the first subject distance and the second subject distance; and

controlling the bending actuator to bend the distal end of the insertion portion such that the difference value is decreased.

2. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point such that an extending direction of a line connecting the first measurement point and the second measurement point is parallel to a direction in which the bending actuator is configured to bend the distal end of the insertion portion.

3. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to control a display to display the display image and the first measurement point and the second measurement point superimposed on the display image.

4. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to control a display to display:

the display image; and

a targeting mark superimposed on the display image.

5. The endoscope device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the targeting mark is a circle or a polygon, and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point on a line of the circle or the polygon.

6. The endoscope device according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point such that a distance from the center of the targeting mark to the first measurement point is equal to a distance from the center of the targeting mark to the second measurement point.

7. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to repeat the control process until the difference value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

8. The endoscope device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

control a display to display the display image; and

control the display to display a notification until the difference value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

9. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to display:

the display image; and

the first subject distance and the second subject distance.

10. The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

calculate a spatial coordinate of the first measurement point, and a spatial coordinate of the second measurement point; and

calculate the first subject distance based on the spatial coordinate of the first measurement point and the reference point, and the second subject distance based on the spatial coordinate of the second measurement point and the reference point.

11. A method comprising:

controlling, by one or more processors comprising hardware, an image sensor, arranged at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope device, to generate an imaging signal based on a subject image of a subject formed on the image sensor; and

performing, by the one or more processors, a control process comprising:

processing the imaging signal to generate image data of a display image of the subject to be displayed on a display,

setting a first measurement point and a second measurement point on the display image of the subject;

calculating a first subject distance from the first measurement point to a reference point of the image sensor, and a second subject distance from the second measurement point to the reference point of the image sensor;

calculating a difference value between the first subject distance and the second subject distance; and

controlling a bending actuator to bend the distal end of the insertion portion such that the difference value is decreased.

12. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that cause one or more processors to:

perform a control process comprising:

processing an imaging signal to generate image data of a display image of a subject to be displayed on a display,

wherein the image signal is generated by an image sensor based on a subject image of the subject formed on the image sensor,

wherein the image sensor is arranged at a distal end of an insertion portion, and

wherein a bending actuator is configured to bend the distal end of the insertion portion so as to change an imaging visual field of the image sensor;

setting a first measurement point and a second measurement point on the display image of the subject;

calculating a first subject distance from the first measurement point to a reference point of the image sensor, and a second subject distance from the second measurement point to the reference point of the image sensor;

calculating a difference value between the first subject distance and the second subject distance; and

controlling the bending actuator to bend the distal end of the insertion portion such that the difference value is decreased.

13. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point such that an extending direction of a line connecting the first measurement point and the second measurement point is parallel to a direction in which the bending actuator is configured to bend the distal end of the insertion portion.

14. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to control a display to display the display image and the first measurement point and the second measurement point superimposed on the display image.

15. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to control a display to display:

the display image; and

a targeting mark superimposed on the display image.

16. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 15 ,

wherein the targeting mark is a circle or a polygon, and

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point on a line of the circle or the polygon.

17. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 16 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to set the first measurement point and the second measurement point such that a distance from the center of the targeting mark to the first measurement point is equal to a distance from the center of the targeting mark to the second measurement point.

18. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to repeat the control process until the difference value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

19. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 18 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

control a display to display the display image; and

control the display to display a notification until the difference value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

20. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to display:

the display image; and

the first subject distance and the second subject distance.

21. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to: calculate a spatial coordinate of the first measurement point, and a spatial coordinate of the second measurement point; and calculate the first subject distance based on the spatial coordinate of the first measurement point and the reference point, and the second subject distance based on the spatial coordinate of the second measurement point and the reference point.