# US 2016/0353979 A1 · Bendable treatment instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0353979 A1 - Document ID: US20160353979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/103,249 - Filed: 2014-12-12 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-13 - Assignees: Kyushu University, National University Corporation - Applicants: Kyushu University, National University Corporation - Inventors: Makoto HASHIZUME; Hajime KENMOTSU; Ryu NAKADATE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160353979A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/00133: {Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope} - A61B 17/2909: {Handles} - A61B 34/70: {Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery} - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/003: {Steerable} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2017/2946: {Locking means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Provided is a bendable treatment instrument that enables an individual doctor who is performing an endoscopic procedure to reliably and intuitively manipulate forceps, a knife, or the like. A bendable treatment instrument (1) includes a mechanism connecting, via a flexible tube body (4) encasing a transmission member, a bending section (3) configured to perform a bending action and a manipulation member (8) configured to receive a manipulation with respect to the bending section (3) from an operator. The mechanism is capable of transmitting a manipulation by the manipulation member (8) to the bending section (3). The bendable treatment instrument further includes a support member (7) configured to support the manipulation member (8) while clasping the flexible tube body (4), and a rotation support member (11) configured to support the manipulation member (8) so as to allow the manipulation member (8) to axially rotate with respect to the flexible tube body (4) at the support member (7). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bendable treatment instrument, comprising a mechanism connecting, via a flexible tube body encasing a transmission member, a bending section configured to perform a bending action and a manipulation member configured to receive a manipulation with respect to the bending section from an operator, the mechanism being capable of transmitting a manipulation by the manipulation member to the bending section, the bendable treatment instrument further comprising: a support member configured to support the manipulation member while clasping the flexible tube body; and a rotation support member configured to support the manipulation member with respect to an axis of the flexible tube body at the support member so as to allow an axis of the manipulation member to axially rotate about the axis of the flexible tube body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a lock member configured to inhibit or to permit axial rotation of the manipulation member at the rotation support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to stand upright from a predetermined base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a sliding mechanism configured to slide on the predetermined base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tube body is encased in an outer tube fixed to the base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein forceps or a high-frequency knife is provided at a tip end of the bending section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tube body has an outer diameter that is smaller than 2.8 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 2, wherein the support member is configured to stand upright from a predetermined base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a sliding mechanism configured to slide on the predetermined base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 2, wherein the flexible tube body is encased in an outer tube fixed to the base. ### Claim 11 A bendable treatment instrument, comprising a mechanism connecting, via a flexible tube body encasing a transmission member, a bending section configured to perform a bending action and a manipulation member configured to receive a manipulation with respect to the bending section from an operator, the mechanism being capable of transmitting a manipulation by the manipulation member to the bending section, the bendable treatment instrument further comprising: a support member configured to support the manipulation member; and a rotation support member configured to support the manipulation member at the support member so as to allow an axis of the manipulation member to axially rotate about an axis of the flexible tube body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, further comprising a lock member configured to inhibit or to permit axial rotation of the manipulation member at the rotation support member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein the support member is configured to stand upright from a predetermined base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein the support member comprises a sliding mechanism configured to slide on the predetermined base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein the flexible tube body is encased in an outer tube fixed to the base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein forceps or a high-frequency knife is provided at a tip end of the bending section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 11, wherein the flexible tube body has an outer diameter that is smaller than 2.8 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 12, wherein the support member is configured to stand upright from a predetermined base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 12, wherein the support member comprises a sliding mechanism configured to slide on the predetermined base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The bendable treatment instrument according to claim 12, wherein the flexible tube body is encased in an outer tube fixed to the base.