Patent ID: 7570981

Claim:
A guiding catheter system for accessing a patient's heart, comprising: an outer jacket comprising a shaft, the shaft comprising: a proximal tip, a proximal end, a distal tip, and a distal portion; a guide lumen extending from the proximal tip to the distal tip of the shaft; at least one longitudinal separation seam that facilitates longitudinal separation of the jacket; and a longitudinal exterior surface extending at least from the proximal tip to the distal portion of the shaft; at least three distal balloons disposed on the distal portion of the shaft; at least three inflation tubes disposed on and along the exterior surface of the shaft from the proximal end of the shaft to at least one of the distal balloons disposed on the distal portion of the shaft, each inflation tube of the at least three inflation tubes having an inflation lumen in fluid communication with one of the distal balloons, each inflation lumen of each inflation tube having a thin wall section extending between the proximal end and the distal portion of the shaft, each thin wall section inflatable to stiffen at least a portion of the outer jacket when the at least three distal balloons are inflated, the thin wall section of each inflation lumen of each inflation tube smaller in diameter than the distal balloon in respective inflated configurations; and a stylet disposed within the guide lumen of the outer jacket and comprising a distal pre-formed bend, the stylet rotatable within the outer jacket along a longitudinal axis of the outer jacket, the distal pre-formed bend of the stylet dimensioned to deflect the outer jacket laterally of the longitudinal axis of the outer jacket upon rotation of the stylet, wherein the at least three inflation tubes are circumferentially arrayed around the longitudinal exterior surface of the jacket and the longitudinal separation seam is located between the inflation tubes circumferentially arrayed around the longitudinal exterior surface of the jacket.