Fluid insensitive braking for an endoscope

摘要

A fluid insensitive system for braking the displacement cables of 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 slidably mounted adjacent the control wheel and is moved in and out of engagement with the wheel by an actuator. A ratchet mechanism acts between the control wheel and the brake disc to apply a restraining force against the wheel when the wheel and the brake disc are in engagement.