Patent ID: 7678074

Claim:
A deflectable catheter assembly comprising: a catheter shaft extending from a catheter shaft proximal portion to a catheter shaft deflectable distal end; a flexible element extending through the catheter shaft from the catheter shaft deflectable distal end to a catheter shaft intermediate portion, the flexible element extends outside of the catheter shaft at the catheter shaft intermediate portion and extends toward the catheter shaft proximal portion along the catheter shaft; and a carriage assembly movably coupled with the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion, wherein the carriage assembly includes: a retainer engaged with the flexible element, the retainer is movably coupled along the catheter shaft and movable between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion, a carriage movably coupled with the retainer, the carriage is laterally movable relative to the catheter shaft and the retainer, the carriage is movable along the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion, and a first brake surface extends along the catheter shaft, and the carriage includes a second brake surface, in a first engaged orientation the second brake surface is engaged with the first brake surface and the carriage assembly is locked in a position along the catheter shaft, and in a second disengaged orientation the carriage is laterally moved relative to the catheter shaft and the second brake surface is disengaged from the first brake surface and the carriage assembly is movable along the catheter shaft; wherein in the first engaged orientation, the carriage is positioned at a first longitudinal location adjacent to the catheter shaft, and in a third engaged orientation where the second brake surface is again engaged with the first brake surface, the carriage is positioned at a second longitudinal location adjacent to the catheter shaft, and the carriage is equidistant from the catheter shaft at both the first and second longitudinal locations.