Patent ID: 8007489
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for curving a catheter, comprising: providing a resilient fiber with a preformed curve shape in a portion thereof; providing a catheter having a first channel, a hard polymer ring that creates a stiffened section extending along a distal portion of the catheter, and a soft section proximal of the stiffened section which has a lower bending resistance than the stiffened section: inserting the resilient fiber into the first channel of the catheter with the preformed portion of the resilient fiber contained substantially within a length of the stiffened section of the catheter created by the hard polymer ring with the preformed portion of the resilient fiber maintained in a straightened orientation within said stiffened section; deploying the catheter to a desired location within a body; and pulling the resilient fiber in a proximal direction within the first channel until at least part of the preformed portion of the resilient fiber slides out of the stiffened section created by the hard polymer ring and into the soft section and thereby imparts a curve shape to the catheter; wherein the hard polymer ring is a cylindrical-shaped marker band provided at a distal end of the catheter.