Patent ID: 7881769
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. Catheter for performing a medical operation on an organic lumen, the catheter comprising: an elongated member comprising substantially flexible material; a medical operational element located at a distal end of said elongated member; an electromagnetic field detector located at said distal end, said electromagnetic field detector operative to detect an electromagnetic field generated by a medical positioning system that is proximal of said elongated member distal end; and a wiring for coupling said electromagnetic field detector with said medical positioning system, said wiring operative to transmit a signal respective of said detected electromagnetic field to said medical positioning system, said wiring being separate and isolated from said medical operational element and from said electromagnetic field detector, said wiring embedded within substantially the entirety of said elongated member between said medical positioning system and said electromagnetic field detector such that said wiring is positioned within the wall of said elongated member and is surrounded, in said embedded portion, by said substantially flexible material of said elongated member, wherein said medical positioning system determines the position and orientation of said distal end, relative to a reference coordinate system, according to said transmitted signal, and wherein said elongated member has a mechanical property of one of rigidity, elasticity, and plasticity, and wherein said mechanical property of the part of said elongated member between said medical positioning system and said electromagnetic field detector where said wiring is embedded is increased or decreased due to said mechanical property of said wiring, irrespective of any modified mechanical property resulting from said medical operational element or from said electromagnetic field detector, such that the increase or decrease in said mechanical property of the part of said elongated member between said medical positioning system and said electromagnetic field detector where said wiring is embedded enhances the maneuverability of said catheter within said organic lumen throughout the stages of: insertion of said catheter into the organic lumen, performance of the medical operation with said medical operational element, and removal of said catheter from the organic lumen.