Patent ID: 8257302

Claim:
A remote control catheterization system comprising: a propelling device, which controllably inserts a flexible, elongate probe into the body of a patient; and a control unit, in communication with the propelling device, and comprising user controls which are operated by a user of the system remote from the patient to control insertion of the probe into the body by the propelling device, wherein the user controls include an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that can be moved longitudinally, forward and back along a single longitudinal axis, and also can be moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis; the intuitive user interface comprising motion sensors that detect longitudinal motion and rotational motion of the handle and convert them to signals; and signal communication circuitry that communicates the signals to the control unit for commanding the propelling device to move the probe; in the same direction and distance as the handle, the intuitive user interface including a fail-safe mechanism that, when activated, allows communication between the intuitive user interface and the control console and that, when deactivated, prevents the communication, and wherein, the handle is a longitudinal member being horizontal in an operative position and being in a non-horizontal orientation in a non-operative position, the handle being operatively connected to a first contact that moves with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail-safe mechanism including a second contact that does not move with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail safe mechanism being implemented as two contacts in the handle that are activated when brought into contact, as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position.