Patent ID: 8414505

Claim:
A medical system, comprising: a medical probe including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, one or more operative elements carried by the distal end of the elongated body, a probe handle mounted to the proximal end of the elongated body, wherein a control element on the probe handle is operatively coupled with a steering mechanism located in the probe handle, and wherein mechanical manipulation of the control element on the probe handle causes corresponding movement of the distal end of the elongated body by the steering mechanism; a user input device configured for generating user signals corresponding to a desired movement of the distal end of the elongated body in response to a user actuation of the user input device; an electronic controller configured for generating electrical control signals corresponding to a mechanical manipulation of the control element in response to the user signals generated by the user input device; and a probe driver configured for removable mounting of the probe handle and for interfacing with the control element on the probe handle to mechanically manipulate the control element in response to the control signals generated by the electronic controller, thereby causing corresponding movement of the distal end of the elongated body.