| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catheter capable of causing an insertion part to protrude in a desired direction from the leading end of the endoscope and stably maintaining its protruding direction, while efficiently and accurately transmitting an at-hand operating force to the leading end to precisely and quickly orient the leading end of the insertion part to a desired part of an organism. SOLUTION: The catheter has a flexible tubular insertion part 2. A plurality of cutouts 10 along the longitudinal direction of the insertion part 2 are formed on the outer surface of the insertion part 2 at the leading end and on one side of a plane passing through the longitudinal axis O of the insertion part 2. The leading end of the insertion part 2 formed with the cutouts 10 can be curved by the operation of moving an operation wire 13 back and forth. A reinforcing tube 24 for regulating the compression of the insertion part 2 along its longitudinal axis is fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the insertion part 2 along approximately the overall length of the insertion part, except at the leading end where the cutouts 10 are formed. |
