Patent ID: 8257267

Claim:
A catheter system, comprising: a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter comprises a catheter body having a lumen; a core received within the lumen of the catheter body; a rotator coupled to a proximal end of the core, wherein the rotator is disposed at the proximal end of the catheter, and wherein the rotator is configured and arranged for rotating about an axis of rotation when coupled to a drive unit; and at least one orienting feature, the at least one orienting feature comprising at least one elongated spline extending proximally from a side of the rotator along the axis of rotation of the rotator; and a drive unit configured to receive the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the drive unit comprises a rotatable shaft connector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft connector comprises a tubular distal portion comprising an inner layer and an outer layer disposed concentrically around at least a portion of the inner layer, wherein the inner layer comprises a distal edge that defines an opening configured and arranged to receive the rotator, wherein the rotatable shaft connector comprises a rotational axis extending along the longitudinal length of the rotatable shaft connector, wherein the outer layer comprises a distal edge with at least one sloping surface that slopes along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the shaft connector, wherein the outer layer defines at least one orienting slot extending along the outer layer from the distal edge of the outer layer such that the at least one orienting slot is continuous with the at least one sloping surface, wherein the at least one orienting slot is configured and arranged such that when the opening of the inner layer receives the rotator the at least one orienting slot receives the at least one spline such that the at least one spline extends along a portion of the outer layer of the shaft connector that defines the at least one orienting slot, and wherein the rotator and core rotate with the shaft connector when the at least one spline is inserted into the at least one slot.