Catheter deflection system with deflection load limiter

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a flexible catheter assembly comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis;
• (b) an end effector extending attached to the distal portion of the flexible catheter assembly, the end effector including at least one electrode;
• (c) a deflection assembly, the deflection assembly being configured to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis;
• and
• (d) a load limiting assembly, the load limiting assembly being configured to decouple the deflection assembly at a predetermined load such that the input member is inhibited from driving the translating assembly when the deflection assembly is decoupled by the load limiting assembly.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a handle;
• (b) a flexible catheter extending distally from the handle, a proximal portion of the flexible catheter defining a longitudinal axis;
• (c) an end effector extending distally from the catheter, the end effector including at least one electrode;
• (d) a deflection assembly, the deflection assembly being configured to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis, the deflection assembly comprising:
• (i) an input member associated with the handle, and
• (ii) a translating assembly coupled to the end effector, the input member being configured to drive the translating assembly to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis;
• and
• (e) a load limiting assembly comprising a biasing member interposed between the input member and the translating assembly, the load limiting assembly being configured to transition between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, the load limiting assembly being configured to decouple the input member from the translating assembly at a predetermined load such that the input member is inhibited from driving the translating assembly in the disengaged configuration, the load limiting assembly being configured to permit the input member to drive the translating assembly in the engaged configuration, the biasing member biasing the load limiting assembly toward the engaged configuration.