Patent ID: 7776062

Claim:
A medical device for use in a body lumen, said device comprising: a tubular sheath comprising: a proximal end; a distal end opposite said proximal end; at least one reconfigurable section disposed intermediate said proximal and distal ends; and an elastic bias section disposed proximal relative to said reconfigurable section, said elastic bias section configured to vary the axial length of said reconfigurable section; and an elongate control element defining a proximal end and a distal end, said control element sized to allow longitudinal placement thereof within said sheath, said sheath and control element fixedly attached to one another at substantially opposing ends thereof such that a tensile force is imposed by said sheath on said control element through said fixed attachment, said tensile force sufficient to bias said reconfigurable section in an expanded first shape that can be overcome by imparting an external force on said sheath through said elastic bias section such that said medical device assumes a second shape different from said first shape.