Patent ID: 8048026

Claim:
A method for using a catheter comprising: deflecting a catheter deflectable distal tip and locking the catheter deflectable distal tip in a desired orientation with only movement of an actuator, the actuator engaged with a carriage, including: depressing the actuator and the carriage relative to a handle; moving the actuator, the carriage and a retainer proximally and distally relative to the catheter deflectable distal tip, the actuator is attached to a flexible element anchored in the catheter deflectable distal tip by the retainer movably coupled with the carriage, wherein: proximal movement of the actuator loads the flexible element in tension and pulls the deflectable distal tip in a first direction, and distal movement of the actuator loads the flexible element in compression and transmits a pushing force to the deflectable distal tip, and the transmitted pushing force deflects the deflectable distal tip in a second opposed direction; and releasing the actuator relative to the handle, and the actuator locks the flexible element in the position at release and correspondingly locks the deflectable distal tip in the desired orientation, wherein the retainer and the flexible element are laterally static relative to the handle during depressing and releasing.