Endoscope system equipped with manipulating unit for commanding medical therapy to endoscope and medical instrument attached thereto

An endoscope system comprising:

• an endoscope equipped with an elongated and flexible insertion tube being insertable into an object being examined and formed to be used in combination with a therapeutic instrument, the insertion tube having a distal section accommodating therein at least an optical system for imaging and presenting a longitudinal direction;
• a manipulating unit manually manipulated for commanding operations of at least the therapeutic instrument and formed to be loaded to the insertion tube and slidable along the insertion tube in the longitudinal direction thereof;
• and
• a controlling apparatus adapted to control at least the therapeutic instrument based on a command from the manipulating unit, wherein
• the manipulating unit comprises a substantially cylindrical tube member detachably loaded to the insertion tube of the endoscope and presenting an axial direction,
• the manipulating unit comprises an input device at which the operations are demanded, the input device being movably fixed to the tube member,
• the manipulating unit comprises a substantially toric ring member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tube member, and being slidable in both the axial direction of the tube member and a circumferential direction of the tube member, the input device being mounted on the ring member, and
• the ring member comprises a fixing means adapted for fixing the ring member at any position of the tube member.