Patent ID: 7449010

Claim:
A catheter for insertion into a biological conduit comprising: an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the biological conduit, the catheter shaft comprising: a material collection chamber located within the catheter shaft, a controllably arcuate segment adjacent to the distal end configured to selectively transition between a relatively straight shape and a bowed shape, the controllably arcuate segment defining an opening in the form of a hole that is located at a convex portion of the controllably arcuate segment when the arcuate segment takes the bowed shape, wherein a portion of the controllably arcuate segment having the opening is configured to maintain a substantially constant cross section throughout the transition; and a sliding member movably disposed within the shaft and configured to selectively traverse the opening to move an occlusive material received through the opening into the material collection chamber and away from said opening, wherein movement of the sliding member past the arcuate segment and to the distal end allows for the transition from the relatively straight shape to the bowed shape.