A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a wall of a body lumen during a cutting operation thereof, the tissue-removing catheter comprising: an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen, the catheter body having opposite distal and proximal portions , and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal and proximal portions , the catheter body having a jogged portion configured to apply an urge force against the body lumen wall and urge a portion of the catheter body toward a portion of the body lumen wall; a drive shaft ; a tissue-removing element for removing tissue from the body lumen during the cutting operation, the tissue-removing element being coupled to the drive shaft , the tissue-removing element being located generally adjacent the portion of the catheter body that is urged toward the body lumen wall by the jogged portion ; the tissue-removing catheter characterized in that the tissue-removing catheter comprises an urging mechanism configured to selectively apply a compressive load to the catheter body to adjust the bending stiffness of the jogged portion and the urge force applied by the jogged portion wherein the urging mechanism includes a tension member for imparting the compressive load to the catheter body ; wherein the tension member is elongate and extends along the catheter body ; wherein the tension member is movable longitudinally with respect to the catheter body ; wherein the tension member has a distal portion adjacent the distal portion of the catheter body , and an opposite proximal portion adjacent the proximal portion of the catheter body , the distal portion of the tension member being fixedly secured to the catheter body ; and wherein the urging mechanism includes an elastic tension component for imparting a tensile load to the tension member , and a load actuator for imparting a tensile load to elastic tension component . an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen, the catheter body having opposite distal and proximal portions , and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal and proximal portions , the catheter body having a jogged portion configured to apply an urge force against the body lumen wall and urge a portion of the catheter body toward a portion of the body lumen wall; a drive shaft ; a tissue-removing element for removing tissue from the body lumen during the cutting operation, the tissue-removing element being coupled to the drive shaft , the tissue-removing element being located generally adjacent the portion of the catheter body that is urged toward the body lumen wall by the jogged portion ; the tissue-removing catheter characterized in that the tissue-removing catheter comprises an urging mechanism configured to selectively apply a compressive load to the catheter body to adjust the bending stiffness of the jogged portion and the urge force applied by the jogged portion wherein the urging mechanism includes a tension member for imparting the compressive load to the catheter body ; wherein the tension member is elongate and extends along the catheter body ; wherein the tension member is movable longitudinally with respect to the catheter body ; wherein the tension member has a distal portion adjacent the distal portion of the catheter body , and an opposite proximal portion adjacent the proximal portion of the catheter body , the distal portion of the tension member being fixedly secured to the catheter body ; and wherein the urging mechanism includes an elastic tension component for imparting a tensile load to the tension member , and a load actuator for imparting a tensile load to elastic tension component . <EOS>