Patent ID: 7871422

Claim:
A forceps unit for an endoscope, comprising: a flexible sheath; an operating wire provided within the flexible sheath to be reciprocable in a direction of an axis of the flexible sheath; a pair of forceps end pieces; two support shafts rotatably supporting the pair of forceps end pieces, respectively, the two support shafts being fixed to an end support frame provided at a distal end of the flexible sheath so that the pair of forceps end pieces rotate around the two support shafts that form an axis to cause the pair of forceps end pieces to rotate about the axis to open and close when the operating wire is operated back and forth; and a liquid feed channel that is provided within the flexible sheath in parallel with the operating wire; wherein a distal part of the liquid feed channel passes between the two support shafts so that an outlet of the liquid feed channel is positioned in front of the two support shafts, an outer end part of each of the two support shafts has a cylindrical shape, and wherein a liquid feed channel holder, that supports a distal end of the liquid feed channel, and said two support shafts comprise a single integral member and a central axis of the two support shafts perpendicularly intersects a central axis of the liquid feed channel when the pair of forceps end pieces are in a closed position, wherein the liquid feed channel is formed by a flexible tube placed inside the flexible sheath and a solid pipe supported by the liquid feed channel holder connected together in the vicinity of the distal end of the flexible sheath, and wherein a distal end of the solid pipe has an expanded circumference so as to prevent an outlet of the solid pipe from sinking into the liquid feed channel holder, the outlet of the solid pipe being positioned in front of the two support shafts and facing forwarding towards free ends of the forceps end pieces.