Patent ID: 8551109

Claim:
A method of performing a medical intervention in a subject's body, the method comprising navigation of at least one medical device comprising several segments through the body lumens or cavities, the navigation method comprising the step of applying a magnetic field to orient a magnetically responsive element in the distal end portion of the device and advancing the device, and further comprising at least one navigation step selected from the group consisting of i) bending a portion proximal to a distal end portion of a medical device through electrostriction; ii) stiffening a segment of a medical device through electrostriction; and iii) rotating a segment of a medical device through electrostriction; wherein the step of applying a magnetic field comprises successively orienting the distal end of the medical device by applying a magnetic field to orient a magnetically responsive element in the distal end portion of the device, and advancing the device; and applying a voltage to at least one electrostrictive element located on the device to change the orientation of the distal end from the orientation achieved by the application of the magnetic field alone.