Patent ID: 7789826

Claim:
A control device for use with a steerable medical device, comprising: at least one pair of control wires for deflecting the distal end of the medical device, wherein each control wire has a proximal end; a housing configured for receiving the pair of control wires; an elongate transmission structure having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end, wherein each end is coupled to one of the proximal ends of the pair of control wires; the transmission structure having a number of bodies that slidably engage links, wherein a pair of adjacent bodies slidably move toward each other along the longitudinal axis of the transmission structure to receive a compressive force applied to the transmission structure, and the pair of adjacent bodies slidably move away from each other generally along the longitudinal axis of the transmission structure to receive a tensile force applied to the transmission structure; a drive member for engaging the transmission structure; and an actuator operably coupled to the drive member for effecting movement of the drive member.