Patent ID: 6090129
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A treatment accessory for use with an endoscope, said accessory having a proximal end nearest the user and a distal end remote from a user, and said treatment accessory comprising:an instrument unit having an open state and a closed state, said instrument unit being neutrally positioned in said open state by a resilient force of said instrument unit;a first manipulation part including a first grasping portion by which said accessory is held, said first grasping portion being closer to said proximal end of said treatment accessory than any other portion of said treatment accessory;a second manipulation part including a second grasping portion by which said accessory is held, said first manipulation part being movable in relation to said second manipulation part;a flexible outer tube, a proximal end of said flexible outer tube connected to said second manipulation part, said flexible outer tube positionable within an instrument channel of said endoscope when in use;a manipulation wire, a proximal end of said manipulation wire fixed with respect to said outer tube, a distal end of said manipulation wire connected to said instrument unit;a flexible inner tube slidably positioned within said flexible outer tube, said flexible inner tube slidably surrounding said manipulation wire, a proximal end of said flexible inner tube connected to said first manipulation part,wherein, when said first grasping portion is moved in the direction of said distal end of said treatment accessory to be located at a position closest to said second grasping portion, said flexible inner tube surrounds a portion of said instrument unit adjacent to said distal end of said manipulation wire to position said instrument unit in a closed state, and when said first grasping portion is moved in the direction of said proximal end of said treatment accessory to be located at a position spaced from said second grasping portion, said flexible inner tube uncovers said portion of said instrument unit adjacent to said distal end of said manipulation wire and said instrument unit becomes positioned in said open state by said resilient force, so that said instrument is operated to a closed state when an operator closes the grasp of the hand operating the first and second grasping portions of the accessory.