Patent ID: 7101362

Claim:
A method of steering and shaping a catheter for examination, diagnosis, or treatment of target tissue, the catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal end region and a distal end, said tubular body defining a plurality of steering lumens including a first steering lumen and a second steering lumen, wherein said first steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a first termination point at a first longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body, and said second steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a second termination point at a second longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body, wherein said first and second termination points are at different radial locations around the circumference of said tubular catheter body, and wherein said first steering lumen comprises a first inlet port adapted to be coupled to a first fluid source, and wherein said second steering lumen comprises a second inlet port adapted to be coupled to a second fluid source; and an active region adjacent to said distal end of said catheter, wherein said first and second steering lumens extend adjacent to said active region; the method comprising the steps of (a) inserting said distal end of said catheter into a blood vessel within a patient's body containing the target tissue; (b) introducing steering fluid through said first inlet port and into said first steering lumen; (c) introducing steering fluid through said second inlet port and into said second steering lumen; and (d) steering said active region adjacent to the target tissue using fluid-force-induced bending moments by (i) creating a first fluid-force-induced bending moment by regulating a first flow rate and a first pressure of said steering fluid in said first steering lumen; and (ii) creating a second fluid-force-induced bending moment by regulating a second flow rate and a second pressure of said steering fluid in said second steering lumen.