| 主权项 |
1. A control unit providing a braking system for an articulation unit of endoscope, said control unit comprising:
a first shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled with a first operating knob, the second end being coupled with a first cable drum and a first cable pair that are coupled with the articulation unit of the endoscope, wherein at least a portion of the first shaft in proximity to the first operating knob is hollow; a second hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled with a second operating knob, the second end being coupled with a second cable drum and a second cable pair that are coupled with the articulation unit of the endoscope, wherein the first shaft is positioned within the second shaft; a brake knob rotatable about its center axis; a stationary sleeve arranged between the first and the second shafts; a spring supported by the first shaft in proximity to the first end of the first shaft; a pin extending into the hollow portion of the first shaft and coupled to said brake knob by the spring, wherein said pin has a first position and a second position; and a brake body extending outwardly from said pin, wherein said brake body does not press against the stationary sleeve when the pin is in the first position; wherein the pin is movable from the first position into the second position by rotational motion of said brake knob in a first rotational direction and compression of said spring, wherein said brake body becomes pressed against said stationary sleeve when said pin is in said second position, thereby locking said first shaft and braking the articulation unit in a predetermined direction, and wherein said pin is movable from said second position into said first position by rotational motion of said brake knob in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction, thereby allowing the compressive force of said spring to push said pin into said first position. |
