A control system for bi-directional control of a steerable catheter, the catheter including at least two control wires , a distal end of each of the control wires being coupled to the catheter at a distal region thereof, the control system comprising: a housing having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the housing is coupled to the catheter; a slide assembly positioned within the housing and operable to translate linearly therein; a proximal portion of each of the at least two control wires being positioned through the slide assembly; wherein one of the at least two control wires is directly coupled to the slide assembly and the other of the at least two control wires is indirectly coupled to the slide assembly via a direction reversing element , and further comprising a control knob rotatably coupled to the housing at said distal end thereof for linearly translating the slide assembly, thereby enabling the slide assembly to separately manipulate each of said at least two control wires to effect a change in a deflection of said catheter; wherein rotation of the control knob in a first rotational direction causes distal movement of the slide assembly in a first linear direction causing the slide assembly to tension one of said at least two control wires thereby effecting a change in the deflection of said catheter in a first deflection direction and wherein rotation of the knob in a second rotational direction causes proximal movement of the slide assembly in a second linear direction causing the slide assembly to tension the other of said at least two control wires thereby effecting a change in the deflection of said catheter in a second deflection direction, characterized in that said control system further comprises a slack limiting element comprising a friction device for frictionally engaging the one of the at least two control wires for limiting slack therein. a housing having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the housing is coupled to the catheter; a slide assembly positioned within the housing and operable to translate linearly therein; a proximal portion of each of the at least two control wires being positioned through the slide assembly; wherein one of the at least two control wires is directly coupled to the slide assembly and the other of the at least two control wires is indirectly coupled to the slide assembly via a direction reversing element , and further comprising a control knob rotatably coupled to the housing at said distal end thereof for linearly translating the slide assembly, thereby enabling the slide assembly to separately manipulate each of said at least two control wires to effect a change in a deflection of said catheter; wherein rotation of the control knob in a first rotational direction causes distal movement of the slide assembly in a first linear direction causing the slide assembly to tension one of said at least two control wires thereby effecting a change in the deflection of said catheter in a first deflection direction and wherein rotation of the knob in a second rotational direction causes proximal movement of the slide assembly in a second linear direction causing the slide assembly to tension the other of said at least two control wires thereby effecting a change in the deflection of said catheter in a second deflection direction, characterized in that said control system further comprises a slack limiting element comprising a friction device for frictionally engaging the one of the at least two control wires for limiting slack therein. <EOS>