Patent ID: 8591404
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bending device for an endoscope, comprising: an insertion portion comprising: a main body operating portion coupled to a base end part of the flexible tube portion, at least one operating wire; and a bending operation member configured to perform an operation of pushing and pulling said at least one operating wire, so as to bend the bendable tube portion by remote control from the main body operating portion, the at least one operating wire coupled to the bending operation member, wherein a tip end of each of said at least one operating wire is connected to a tip end of the bendable tube portion or to the rigid tip end portion, wherein each of said at least one operating wire is inserted in a flexible sleeve formed of a close-contact coil, wherein the flexible sleeve is fixed in the main body operating portion or to the base end part of the flexible tube portion and to a connection portion between the flexible tube portion and the bendable tube portion, and wherein the flexible sleeve, in which the operating wire is inserted, is configured to extend into the bendable tube portion to bring a tip end of the flexible sleeve into a free state, a part of the flexible sleeve extending from the connection portion to the tip end of the flexible sleeve forming an extension portion of predetermined length, the predetermined length not changing when said at least one operating wire is pulled.