Patent ID: 6823217
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
An elongated medical instrument to be advanced through the body comprising:an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment; an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment; the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension applied directly at the instrument body proximal segment, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment; and proximal tension applying means coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a proximal site of the instrument body proximal segment and distal tension applying means coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a distal site of the instrument body proximal segment, the proximal and distal tension applying means separated apart by a relaxed length of the instrument body proximal segment, wherein tension is adapted to be applied axially between the proximal and distal tension applying means and transferred to the instrument body proximal segment to stretch it to a tensioned length of the instrument body proximal segment exceeding the relaxed length.