Patent ID: 7419477

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing a sheath comprising: a proximal region having a stiffening braid; a deflection region adjacent to the proximal region and distal relative to the proximal region; and a distal-end region adjacent to the deflection region and distal relative to the deflection region, the distal-end region comprising: a shapeable region; an anchor region defined between the deflection region and the shapeable region; an anchor band within the anchor region; one or more steering tendons attached to the anchor band; a compression cage defining at least a substantial portion of the deflection region, the compression cage including a coil and two diametrically opposed longitudinal struts attached to loops of the coil; and a longitudinal axis; imparting a pre-established shape to the shapeable region; and applying axial force in a proximal direction at the anchor region using the one or more steering tendons so as to cause the deflection region to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis while the pre-established shape imparted to the shapeable region of the sheath is substantially maintained, wherein the deflection region deflects laterally in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to a projected plane formed by the two diametrically opposed longitudinal struts of the compression cage.