Manipulation device for mechanical connection to the proximal end of a shaft, for forming a medical instrument, with: a retaining device (40, 50, 60) for releasably retaining the proximal end of a shaft or the proximal end (35, 36) of a transmission device for transmitting at least either a force or a torque; a manually activatable actuation device; a coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) for mechanically coupling the actuation device to the retaining device (40, 50, 60) in such a way that a manual activation of the actuation device causes a release of the retaining device (40, 50, 60), wherein the retaining device (40, 50, 60), together with a proximal end (34, 35, 36) of a shaft or of a transmission device retained by the retaining device (40, 50, 60), is displaceable relative to the actuation device parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or of the transmission device, wherein the coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) is designed to couple the actuation device to the movable retaining device (40, 50, 60), independently of the position of the displaceable retaining device (40, 50, 60) relative to the actuation device, in such a way that the retaining device is releasable, characterized in that a plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) are provided, wherein each one of the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) for releasably retaining the proximal end of a shaft or the proximal end (35, 36) of a transmission device, is designed to transmit at least either a force or a torque in the shaft; the coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) is designed to mechanically couple the actuation device to the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) in such a way that a manual activation of the actuation device causes a release of the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60). a retaining device (40, 50, 60) for releasably retaining the proximal end of a shaft or the proximal end (35, 36) of a transmission device for transmitting at least either a force or a torque; a manually activatable actuation device; a coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) for mechanically coupling the actuation device to the retaining device (40, 50, 60) in such a way that a manual activation of the actuation device causes a release of the retaining device (40, 50, 60), wherein the retaining device (40, 50, 60), together with a proximal end (34, 35, 36) of a shaft or of a transmission device retained by the retaining device (40, 50, 60), is displaceable relative to the actuation device parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or of the transmission device, wherein the coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) is designed to couple the actuation device to the movable retaining device (40, 50, 60), independently of the position of the displaceable retaining device (40, 50, 60) relative to the actuation device, in such a way that the retaining device is releasable, characterized in that a plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) are provided, wherein each one of the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) for releasably retaining the proximal end of a shaft or the proximal end (35, 36) of a transmission device, is designed to transmit at least either a force or a torque in the shaft; the coupling device (71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 85) is designed to mechanically couple the actuation device to the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60) in such a way that a manual activation of the actuation device causes a release of the plurality of retaining devices (40, 50, 60).