Fluid insensitive braking for an endoscope

摘要

A fluid insensitive system for braking the displacement cables in an endoscopic insertion tube wherein at least one control wheel is mounted on the outside of the insertion tube control housing. A brake disc is mounted adjacent the control wheel and is moved in and out of engagement with the wheel by an actuator. A plurality of spring loaded detent pins are slidably carried within the control wheel for engaging a series of depressions in the brake disk to form a restraining ratchet mechanism.