Patent ID: 8414574
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A treatment instrument for endoscopes, comprising: a flexible sheath configured such that at least a part thereof is formed of a flexible tube; an operation wire inserted into the flexible sheath to be movable in an axial direction of the flexible sheath; a front-end treatment member connected to a leading end of the operation wire so that the front-end treatment member is allowed to protrude from a front end of the flexible sheath and retracts into the front end of the flexible sheath in accordance with movement of the operation wire; and an at least one elastic member that has elasticity and is located in a front end portion of the flexible sheath in a condition where the at least one elastic member is elastically deformed between an inner surface of the flexible sheath and an outer circumferential surface of the operation wire, the at least one elastic member being a tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the flexible sheath, the at least one elastic member having a longitudinally extending recess formed on an outer surface of the at least one elastic member, wherein the operation wire extends along and is positioned within the longitudinally extending recess, and wherein friction caused among the flexible sheath, the operation wire and the at least one elastic member is applied to movement of the operation wire in the axial direction; and a projected length of the front-end treatment member from the front end of the flexible sheath can be adjusted by moving the operation wire in the axial direction.