Patent ID: 8021409

Claim:
A deployment catheter for carrying a device to be implanted in a patient, including at least a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion, the first and second longitudinal portions having different flexibilities and a continuous lumen extending therethrough, the catheter including a plurality of stiffening elements substantially evenly spaced radially around the catheter at a transition between the two portions, wherein a first end portion of each stiffening element is attached to a wall of the first longitudinal portion, the wall at least partially defining the lumen of the first longitudinal portion, each stiffening element extending from the first longitudinal portion and into the second longitudinal portion, and wherein a second end portion of each of the stiffening elements is disposed within the lumen and free from attachment to the second longitudinal portion, the second end portion being spaced radially away from the second longitudinal portion when the second longitudinal portion is in a substantially straight configuration relative to the first longitudinal portion, and the second end portions of the stiffening elements are connected to one another within a lumen of the catheter.