Patent ID: 7867218

Claim:
A three dimensional steerable catheter to engage the ostium of a right coronary artery of a patient comprising: a proximal shaft having a long axis; and a distal shaft extending from the proximal shaft, the distal shaft including: a preformed support section including a transition segment extending from the proximal shaft and an abutment segment extending from the transition segment, wherein a portion of the proximal shaft adjacent to the distal shaft, the transition segment and the abutment segment generally define a first plane and the portion of the proximal shaft and the abutment segment are generally parallel; and a preformed ostium entry section comprising a first ostium segment extending from the abutment segment; a second ostium segment extending from the first ostium segment at a point of connection; and a distal tip of the second ostium segment, wherein the abutment segment and the point of connection between the first ostium segment and the second ostium segment define a second plane not coincident with the first plane, wherein the three dimensional steerable catheter has a first configuration and a second configuration, which configurations differ in the angle between the first plane and the second plane, further wherein when the proximal shaft is rotated clockwise about the long axis and the abutment segment rests at least in part against an obstruction, the configuration of the three dimensional steerable catheter changes from the first configuration to the second configuration and the distal tip follows the second plane as it rotates in response to rotation of the proximal shaft.