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Steering mechanism for catheters and methods for making same

  • US 5,603,697 A
  • Filed: 02/14/1995
  • Issued: 02/18/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A medical catheter comprising:

  • a flexible tubular member having a distal end, the tubular member being adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, a first portion of the tubular member having a stiffness that is significantly less than the stiffness of the majority of the tubular member, the first portion of the tubular member being located near the distal end of the tubular member,an anchor ring secured to said tubular member near the distal end, of the tubular member, the anchor ring being located near the first portion of the tubular member, the anchor ring near the distal end of the catheter being formed from a material that is electrically conductive;

    a working member disposed distally of the anchor ring;

    an elongated transmission line received within the flexible tubular member for transmitting energy to the working member, the transmission line being electrically coupled to the anchor ring and arranged to pass through said anchor ring; and

    at least one steering wire that extends through said tubular member and is anchored to the anchor ring;

    whereby when the catheter is inserted into the vessel of a patient, the distal end of the catheter may be steered by pulling on the steering wire.

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