Patent ID: 6036707
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A catheter device for use in a biological conduit having tortuous regions, comprising:a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;a housing connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing being flexible to facilitate insertion of the catheter device into the tortuous regions of the biological conduit, the housing being capable of guiding a moveable work element;a work element movably attached to operate within the housing; anda reinforcing means attached for selectively reinforcing the housing to facilitate operation of the work element, the reinforcing means includes a sleeve which slides from one position wherein the housing is flexible to another position wherein the sleeve circumscribes the housing to provide external lateral support to the housing,whereby, when the catheter device is inserted in the biological conduit, the reinforcing means reinforces the housing to facilitate operation of the work element.