Patent ID: 7285108

Claim:
A system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a substantially hooped configuration, said system comprising: an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion being formed with a lumen; a tube disposed in said lumen and having a wall formed with a plurality of slits, said tube being transformable between a first, relaxed configuration wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical shaped and a second, deflected configuration wherein said tube is substantially hoop shaped; a deflection wire having a distal end attached to said tube and a proximal end, with said wire being threaded through adjacent slits to hold said wire against the wall of the tube; and a means operable on the proximal end of said deflection wire for moving said deflection wire axially to a tensioned orientation to transform said tube from the first configuration to the second configuration and reshape the distal portion of the catheter.