A guiding sheath assembly , comprising: an elongated sheath ; a control handle proximal of the sheath, the control handle having a longitudinal axis, and including: a control knob ; a rotatable shaft rotationally and translationally coupled to the control knob so as to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the control handle in response to rotation of the control knob; a first shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in one direction in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft, the first shuttle having a first plurality of teeth; a pinion in engagement with the first plurality of teeth, the pinion configured for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in response to the translation of the first shuttle; and a second shuttle having a second plurality of teeth in engagement with the pinion, the second shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in another direction opposite to the one direction in response to rotation of the pinion; the guiding sheath assembly further comprising: a first puller wire extending along one side of the sheath and having a proximal end portion responsive to at least translation of the first shuttle in a proximal direction; and a second puller wire extending along another side of the sheath and having a proximal end portion response to at least translation of the second shuttle in the proximal direction; wherein the rotational shaft is (i) rotationally coupled to the control knob by a longitudinal ridge formed on an outer surface of the shaft, or (ii) rotationally coupled to the control knob by a pin extending through a portion of the control knob and slot formed in the rotational shaft. an elongated sheath ; a control handle proximal of the sheath, the control handle having a longitudinal axis, and including: a control knob ; a rotatable shaft rotationally and translationally coupled to the control knob so as to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the control handle in response to rotation of the control knob; a first shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in one direction in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft, the first shuttle having a first plurality of teeth; a pinion in engagement with the first plurality of teeth, the pinion configured for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in response to the translation of the first shuttle; and a second shuttle having a second plurality of teeth in engagement with the pinion, the second shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in another direction opposite to the one direction in response to rotation of the pinion; a control knob ; a rotatable shaft rotationally and translationally coupled to the control knob so as to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the control handle in response to rotation of the control knob; a first shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in one direction in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft, the first shuttle having a first plurality of teeth; a pinion in engagement with the first plurality of teeth, the pinion configured for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in response to the translation of the first shuttle; and a second shuttle having a second plurality of teeth in engagement with the pinion, the second shuttle configured for translation along the longitudinal axis in another direction opposite to the one direction in response to rotation of the pinion; a first puller wire extending along one side of the sheath and having a proximal end portion responsive to at least translation of the first shuttle in a proximal direction; and a second puller wire extending along another side of the sheath and having a proximal end portion response to at least translation of the second shuttle in the proximal direction; <EOS>