Endoscopy device having a push-button brake and stabilization mechanism

An endoscope for use in a surgical procedure, comprising:

• a handle for gripping by a user, the handle having a steering control mechanism;
• a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal region configured to be inserted into a patient;
• a steering wire extending longitudinally through the shaft from the distal region of the shaft to the steering control mechanism of the handle,
• the steering control mechanism including a roller knob located outside of the handle and a roller wheel located within the handle and attached to the steering wire, the roller knob and roller wheel rotatable about an axis through the handle and actuatable by a user during the surgical procedure to generate a steering tension force on the steering wire so as to steer the distal region of the shaft;
• and
• the steering control mechanism including a steering wire brake that projects beyond the roller knob in a direction of the axis and that, upon the user pushing or pulling the steering wire brake relative to the roller knob in the direction of the axis, frictionally engages the roller wheel within the handle so as to brake the steering tension force on the steering wire,
• wherein the steering wire brake is selectively lockable and unlockable via a brake lock that includes a flexible annular lip that engages a complementary annular lip on the handle.