Patent ID: 7892166
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A medical instrument comprising a medical catheter having a distal end insertable within a body lumen of a patient, having a first flexible catheter segment, and having a second flexible catheter segment disposed distal the first flexible catheter segment, wherein the first flexible catheter segment includes a first loop sensor that provides a first output and includes an active first catheter stiffener adapted to stiffen and un-stiffen substantially only the first flexible catheter segment based on the first output, and wherein the second flexible catheter segment includes a second loop sensor that provides a second output and includes an active second catheter stiffener adapted to stiffen and un-stiffen substantially only the second flexible catheter segment based on the second output, wherein the first and second catheter stiffeners are adapted to be independently activated by the user, wherein the first catheter stiffener includes an expandedly-biased helical coil surrounding a pull cable, wherein the pull cable is attached to a distal end of the expandedly-biased helical coil to compress the expandedly-biased helical coil and stiffen the first flexible catheter segment, and wherein a proximal end of the expandedly-biased helical coil is blocked from proximal movement by the first flexible catheter section, wherein the distal end of the expandedly-biased helical coil is proximately translatable with respect to the first flexible catheter segment, and longitudinally compressible without corresponding compression of the first flexible catheter segment.