Patent ID: 11931530
Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A medical device, comprising:
a handle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle body defining an interior of the handle;
a tube extending from the distal end of the handle;
an articulation portion at a distal end of the tube;
a steering system coupled to the handle and the articulation portion for deflection of the articulation portion, wherein the steering system includes:
a first steering assembly including a first knob, a first shaft, a first part, and a first strand for controlling deflection of the articulation portion in a first direction, wherein the first knob is outside of the handle body; the first shaft is coupled to the first knob and extends from the first knob into the interior of the handle; the first part is fixed to the first shaft within the interior of the handle, extends radially outward of the first shaft, and rotates with the first shaft; and rotation of the first knob about a steering axis rotates the first shaft and the first part and pulls the first strand to deflect the articulation portion in the first direction; and
a second steering assembly including a second knob, a second shaft, a second part, and a second strand for controlling deflection of the articulation portion in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the second knob is outside of the handle body; the second shaft is coupled to the second knob, extends from the second knob into the interior of the handle, and extends within and is coaxial with the first shaft; the second part is fixed to the second shaft within the interior of the handle, extends radially outward of the second shaft, and rotates with the second shaft; and rotation of the second knob about the steering axis rotates the second shaft and the second part and pulls the second strand to deflect the articulation portion in the second direction;

a brake actuator having an exterior portion outside of the handle body for engagement by a user, and an interior portion in the interior of the handle; and
a brake in the interior of the handle and coupled to the interior portion of the brake actuator,
wherein rotation of the brake actuator relative to the handle body causes the brake to contact, in the interior of the handle, each of the first steering assembly and the second steering assembly, and
wherein the contact between the brake and the first steering assembly is closer to the first knob than the contact between the brake and the second steering assembly is to the first knob, and a direction of force applied by the brake to the first steering assembly is transverse to an axis of rotation of the first steering assembly.