Flexible manipulator

A flexible manipulator, comprising:

• an insertion portion including a tubular flexible portion, a bending portion, and a distal end portion;
• an operating unit on a proximal end side of the insertion portion, the operating unit including a first operating portion;
• a tube inside the tubular flexible portion, the tube including a through-hole spirally extending along a longitudinal axis of the tube from a proximal end to a distal end;
• and
• a wire extending through the through-hole, a first end of the wire connected to the distal end portion and a second end of the wire connected to the first operating portion,
• wherein the first operating portion includes an adjustment mechanism,
• wherein the bending portion is a tubular body between the distal end portion and a distal end side of the tube,
• wherein the flexible manipulator is configured such that operation of the first operating portion transmits a force applied to the first operating portion via the wire to the distal end portion to bend the bending portion relative to a central axis of the insertion portion,
• wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts a tension in the wire, and
• wherein an outer surface of the distal end of the tube is attached to an inner surface of the end portion of the tubular flexible portion.