Patent ID: 8512227

Claim:
An endoscope system, comprising: an endoscope including: a tubular portion having a distal end; a therapeutic member attached to the distal end of the tubular portion for a desired therapeutic treatment; and an insertion tube including a channel through which the tubular portion and the therapeutic member are inserted; a first drive unit which drives the therapeutic member in response to a first command signal; a second drive unit fixedly and directly connected to an inlet structure of the endoscope and which drives the tubular portion in response to a second command signal; an input device including a single input member; and a controller electrically connected to the input device by a single cable transmitting first and second command signals, the controller further including a single driver which provides the first and second drive units with the first and second command signals, respectively, based on a single input operation of the single input member of the input device, to control the first and second drive units according to one of the three control modes wherein the three control modes include: a first control mode in which, based on a first input operation of the single input member of the input device, the second drive unit is driven to apply force to the tubular portion in the direction in which the tubular portion advances forward or goes back, and the first drive unit is driven to apply force to the therapeutic member in the direction in which the therapeutic member advances forward or goes back, whereby the tubular portion advances forward or goes back together with the therapeutic member; a second control mode in which, based on a second input operation of the single input member of the input device, the second drive unit is driven to apply force to the tubular portion in the direction in which the tubular portion advances forward, and the first drive unit is driven to apply force to the therapeutic member so as to be fixed with respect to the tubular portion at a position in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, whereby the tubular portion advances forward in a state where the therapeutic member remains essentially at the same position; and a third control mode in which, based on a third input operation of the single input member of the input device, the first drive unit is driven to apply force to the therapeutic member in the direction in which the therapeutic member goes back, and the second drive unit is driven to apply force to the tubular portion so as to be fixed with respect to the therapeutic member at a position in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion, whereby the therapeutic member goes back in a state where the tubular portion remains essentially at the same position.