Control mechanism for steerable elongated probe having a sealed joystick

Claim 1

A video probe comprising an elongated insertion tube that includes an articulated bending section at its distal end, which includes a cable-driven bending mechanism in which at least one pair of cables is moved differentially to bend the articulated bending section, and a control handle which is attached onto a proximal end of the insertion tube, said video probe receiving the at least one pair of cables which pass from the bending mechanism through the insertion tube; said video probe including a housing in which a proximal end of the insertion tube is affixed, actuator means within the housing for differentially moving said at least one pair of control cables, and a joystick control member having a joystick handle protruding from said housing and coupled to said actuator means for moving said control cables in response to manipulation by an operator of said joystick handle; wherein said joystick handle includes a wineglass member having a generally hemispherical bowl portion and a stem portion projecting from said bowl portion; wherein said housing includes an opening through which said stem portion projects and annular sealing means in contact with said bowl portion permitting movement of said wineglass member in two dimensions while sealing said bowl member against infiltration; and an annular resilient ring seal positioned against an underside of said bowl portion opposite said annular sealing means to urge the bowl portion against said sealing means.