Patent ID: 8206343

Claim:
A catheter with an articulated distal tip, said catheter comprising: an elongated, helical coil spring having open distal and proximal ends and enclosing a longitudinal passageway extending therebetween, successive loops of said coil spring in a terminal portion of said coil spring adjoining said distal end thereof being longitudinally separated; an elongated flexible tube having open distal and proximal ends snugly engaging the exterior of said coil spring, the combination of said flexible tube and said coil spring thereby laterally enclosing a working lumen extending longitudinally through said catheter; and utility enhancement means operably interconnected with said coil spring and with said flexible tube for longitudinally rigidifying said combination of said flexible tube and said coil spring and for selectively laterally deflecting the distal tip of said catheter, wherein the utility enhancement means comprises: a longitudinally extending reinforcing cable captured against the exterior of the coil spring, the distal end of the reinforcing cable being disposed in proximity to the distal end of the coil spring; and a steering cable having a distal end operably interconnected with the distal end of the coil spring, the steering cable extending proximally from the distal end thereof freely through the working lumen to the proximal end of the catheter.