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US 4,996,974 AGranted
Adjustable steering control for flexible probe
AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorJoseph A. Ciarlei
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AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorJoseph A. Ciarlei
Estimating the term…
A control unit for a steerable probe of the type having a flexible insertion tube and a distal steering section which is articulated by displacing a pair of steering cables has a pair of pulleys which can be displaced within the housing to take up slack on the cables. A carrier plate for threaded sheath adjusters for the cable sheaths has a pair of threaded bores for the adjusters and a second pair of threaded bores that extend from the periphery of the carrier plate into the first bores. A pair of threaded set screws lock the adjusters at locking positions relative to the carrier plate. A plurality of set screws are distributed about the circumference of the distal end of the control housing. These set screws releasable engage the proximal portion of a strain relief fitting. This permits the strain relief fitting and the associated insertion tube to be rotated to a desired position relative to the housing. Then the strain relief fitting can be locked to the housing at the desired position, with the insertion tube bending access aligned with the access of the control housing.
An adjustable steering control assembly for a steerable probe of the type having an elongated flexible insertion tube, a distal steering section, at least one pair of steering cables that are enclosed in respective cable sheaths for controlling the bending of said steering section, a control housing disposed at a proximal end of said insertion tube, and means in said control housing for displacing said control cables relative to said sheaths;
A steering control mechanism for a steerable probe of the type having an elongated flexible insertion tube, a distal steering section, at least one pair of steering cables that are enclosed in respective cable sheaths for controlling the bending of said steering section, a control housing disposed at a proximal end of said insertion tube, means in said control housing for displacing said control cables relative to said sheaths, a pair of threaded sheath adjusters abutting the respective proximal ends of said cable sheaths, a carrier plate for said adjusters having a first pair of bores therethrough into which said threaded adjusters are mounted and a second pair of threaded bores extending from the periphery of said carrier plate into said first bores, and a respective pair of threaded set screws in said second bores for locking said adjusters at selected positions relative to said carrier plate.
A steering control mechanism for a steerable probe or the type having an elongated flexible insertion tube, a distal steering section that bends in a predetermined plane, at least one pair of steering cables that are enclosed in respective cable sheaths for controlling the bending of said steering sections, a control housing disposed at a proximal end of said insertion tube, a control shaft that is rotatable in a predetermined plane relative to the housing to displace said cables relative to said sheaths, a strain relief fitting having a distal portion into which the proximal end of said insertion tube is affixed and a proximal portion which fits into a distal portion of said control housing, a plurality of set screws means distributed about the circumference of the distal end of said control housing for releasably engaging the proximal portion of said strain relief fitting, permitting the strain relief fitting and the insertion tube to be rotated to a desired position relative to said housing and then locking the strain relief fitting to the housing at said desired position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.