Patent ID: 7758573

Claim:
A blood vessel treatment method using multi-degree-of-freedom forceps, the method comprising: providing a multi-degree-of-freedom forceps comprising a forceps main body and a controller, the forceps main body including an elongated inserting portion, a joint portion provided on a distal end portion of the inserting portion, a tip working portion which is connected to the joint portion and driven with at least 2 degrees of freedom including a vertical direction which is normal to a central axis of the elongated inserting portion, by activation of the joint portion, a handle provided on a proximal end portion of the inserting portion, which includes an actuator activating the joint portion and the tip working portion and which is held and manipulated using the fingers of one hand, and an input portion provided on the handle, the controller transmitting an electric signal to the actuator and driving the joint portion and the tip working portion in response to an input to the input portion; incising a membranous tissue covering a blood vessel by an input to the input portion, using the fingers of one hand so that the joint portion causes a blade of an electric cautery used as the tip working portion to move in the horizontal direction and so that the tip working portion is supplied with electricity, in a state where a distal side of the forceps main body is inserted into a body cavity; and detaching the blood vessel from a tissue by an input to the input portion, using the fingers of one hand so that the joint portion causes the blade to move in the vertical direction, in a state where the distal side of the forceps main body is inserted into the body cavity through an incised portion of the membranous tissue.