Patent ID: 7497853

Claim:
A deflectable catheter comprising: A catheter shaft including a deflectable distal tip, and a delivery lumen extending through the catheter shaft from a proximal end of the catheter shaft toward the deflectable distal tip; a support member coupled with a proximal portion of the catheter shaft, the support member surrounding the proximal portion of the catheter shaft, wherein the support member includes a first brake portion extending in a first direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion of the catheter shaft; a handle coupled around the support member, and the support member holds the proximal portion of the catheter shaft within the handle; a carriage moveably coupled along the handle, and the carriage is movable in the first direction, wherein the carriage includes a second brake portion sized and shaped to engage with at least a portion of the first brake portion and substantially prevent movement of the carriage relative to the handle, and the carriage is laterally movable in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction to disengage the second brake portion from the first brake portion; a flexible element coupled between the deflectable distal tip and the carriage; and a biasing device coupled between the carriage and the handle, and the biasing device is adapted to bias the second brake portion into engagement with the first brake portion.