Patent ID: 11944769
Assignee: ACCLARENT, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A catheter system comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a guide member assembly extending distally from the body, the guide member assembly comprising:
(i) a proximal rigid portion defining a longitudinal axis,
(ii) a distal flexible portion comprising a longitudinally extending resilient spine and a plurality of flexing bodies defining a plurality of adjustable gaps, and
(iii) an open distal end,
the guide member assembly defining a lumen, the lumen being in communication between the body and the open distal end;

(c) an articulation assembly operatively coupled to the distal flexible portion, the articulation assembly being configured to flex the distal flexible portion and the open distal end relative to the longitudinal axis between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration; and
(d) a partial sleeve covering the plurality of adjustable gaps disposed within a portion of the lumen defined by the distal flexible portion, the partial sleeve defining a crescent shape as viewed from a longitudinal end of the partial sleeve, the crescent shape being bound by a pair of longitudinally extending edges, the pair of longitudinally extending edges defining a longitudinally extending gap extending adjacent to the longitudinally extending resilient spine.