Endoscope control unit with braking system

An endoscope system, comprising:

• an insertion tube;
• a steering knob for articulating a section of said insertion tube;
• a steering shaft coupled to said steering knob, wherein said steering knob and said steering shaft are coupled, such that rotation of said steering knob causes rotation of said steering shaft;
• and
• a braking system, said braking system comprising:
• a lid,
• a disc configured to move between an extended position, wherein said disc is engaged with said lid, and a retracted position, wherein said disc is disengaged from said lid,
• a bushing, wherein said bushing receives said shaft and said disc,
• a biasing member configured to bias said bushing, and
• an actuator, wherein said actuator is configured to provide relative rotation between said bushing and said lid to align said bushing with said lid;
• wherein said actuator is configured to rotate said lid.

An endoscope system, comprising:

• an insertion tube;
• a steering knob for articulating a section of said insertion tube;
• a first articulation actuator;
• a first shaft coupled to the first articulation actuator;
• a first sleeve coupled to the steering knob, wherein the first shaft is received in the first sleeve and wherein the steering knob and the first sleeve are coupled, such that rotation of said steering knob causes rotation of said first sleeve;
• a first braking system configured to brake the first articulation actuator, said first braking system comprising:
• a first braking actuator, wherein the first braking actuator includes a pin received in the first shaft, and
• at least one brake body, wherein the at least one brake body extends radially outward from said pin, and wherein the pin and the at least one brake body are engaged, such that movement of the pin, via actuation of the first braking actuator, is configured to move the at least one brake body between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a second articulation actuator;
• and
• a second braking system configured to brake the second articulation actuator, the second braking system comprising:
• a braking lid,
• a braking disc configured to move between an extended position, wherein the braking disc is engaged with the braking lid, and a retracted position, wherein the braking disc is disengaged from the braking lid,
• a braking bushing,
• a biasing member configured to bias the braking bushing, and
• a second braking actuator, wherein the second braking actuator is configured to provide relative rotation between said braking bushing and said braking lid, such that decompression of said biasing member pushes said braking disc into the extended position.