Abstract: A hand-operated intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter is described for flexed and rotational steering is described for improved catheter operation, control and less trauma on patients. The disclosed catheter assembly includes ultrasound transducers mounted upon a rotatable tip mounted on a distal end of a flexible elongate shaft. A set of steering lines are controlled by a steering actuator to articulate bidirectionally a distal segment of the catheter. Another steering actuator controls rotation of a torque member that, in turn is coupled to the rotatable tip. A user, through the steering actuators, affects repositioning the ultrasonic transducers by repositioning exposed control surfaces of the steering actuators lengthwise along the housing of the handle.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch employing pallets of mirror assemblies configured as an array, wherein each mirror assembly includes a mirror that is rotatable in a two-axis system to steer a beam in 2-dimensional space. Each mirror assembly includes a mirror module that can be rotated in relation to a first axis as well as in relation to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The mirror modules are suspended by wires in a manner that allows the pitch and roll of the mirror module to be controlled. Coils and magnets are employed to generate magnetic fields which create a rotating torque in each of the two rotational axes. By controlling the magnetic fields that are generated, the degree of rotation can in turn be controlled. The configuration provides for a practical, area efficient, bidirectional, randomly addressable optical cross-connect switch design that can employ conventional materials and processes.