Patent ID: 7621927

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a flexible tube; an actuator associated with a proximal portion of the flexible tube; at least one end effector associated with a distal portion of the flexible tube; at least one control member extending through the flexible tube for transmitting force to the end effector upon actuation of the actuator; and a coupling receiving the control member and conveying a force to the control member upon actuation of the actuator; wherein a portion of the control member is deformable along a first dimension after being received by the coupling, and wherein the coupling comprises a retaining member extending along a second dimension different from the first dimension to maintain the position of the control member with respect to the coupling; wherein the coupling defines a first passageway extending through a length of the coupling for receiving the control member, wherein the first passageway extends along a third dimension, wherein the third dimension is different from the first and second dimensions, wherein the coupling further defines a second passageway extending from an outer surface of the coupling for receiving the retaining member, wherein at least a portion of the second passageway intersects the first passageway, wherein the second passageway extends along the second dimension.