Patent ID: 8676290

Claim:
An apparatus for maneuvering a medical device, the apparatus comprising: a support member extending along a longitudinal axis; a flexible elongate member having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is operably coupled to the support member; a first adjusting knob and a second adjusting knob, the first and second adjusting knobs rotatably coupled to the support member, with the first and second adjusting knobs being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; a first pair of deflection wires operably coupled to the first adjusting knob and to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a second pair of deflection wires operably coupled to the second adjusting knob and to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a first transmission configured to convert rotation of the first adjusting knob to axial force on one of the first pair of deflection wires, the first transmission comprising a first component configured for translational motion; and a second transmission configured to convert rotation of the second adjusting knob to axial force on one of the second pair of deflection wires, the second transmission comprising a second component configured for translational motion, wherein at least a portion of the second component axially overlaps with at least a portion of the first component; wherein rotation of the first adjusting knob imparts a tensile force on one of the first pair of deflection wires thereby causing the distal portion of the flexible elongate member to deflect in a first direction, wherein rotation of the second adjusting knob imparts a tensile force on one of the second pair of deflection wires thereby causing the distal portion of the flexible elongate member to deflect in a second direction.