US Patent 7025759 Steerable catheter

A steerable catheter includes a housing, an elongated tube, a steering member and a retention mechanism. The elongated tube extends from the housing. The steering member is movably attached to the housing and is interconnected to a distal tip of the elongated tube such that movement of the steering member causes a corresponding angular movement of the distal tip. The retention mechanism is carried by at least one of the steering member and the housing. The retention mechanism is operative in the first mode to provide smooth movement of the steering member relative to the housing and further operative in a second mode to provide ratcheted movement of the steering member relative to the housing.