Patent ID: 8414524

Claim:
A catheter section comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter body including a distal flexible joint region, a main lumen extending through said catheter body and through said flexible joint region, and a wire lumen adjacent to said main lumen and extending through said catheter body and through said flexible joint region, the wire lumen of said flexible joint region having an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region; a push-pull wire disposed in said wire lumen, said push-pull wire being configured to be pushed distally and pulled proximally along a longitudinal axis of the wire through the wire lumen, the distal end of said push-pull wire attached to said distal flexible joint region such that translation of said push-pull wire distally or proximally effects flexion of said distal flexible joint region of said catheter, the push-pull wire having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a distal portion of a smaller diameter than said first diameter, and the wire lumen including a lubricious lining along at least a substantial portion of the wire lumen; a coil disposed in said wire lumen around the smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire, said coil being wound in close contact with said smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire and configured to limit lateral deflection of the smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire sufficient to prevent rupture of said wire lumen and said catheter body by said smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire when said push-pull wire is pushed distally, and a coating of a material with a low coefficient of friction disposed over the push-pull wire; and a control in communication with a proximal end of the push-pull wire, said control being configured to push said push-pull wire distally and pull said push-pull wire proximally to control flexion of the flexible joint region.