Patent ID: 8372033

Claim:
A deflectable catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end, a catheter shaft, and a distal portion, a control unit coupled to the proximal end of the catheter body; an elongate tensioning element that extends from the control unit through the proximal end, the catheter shaft and to the distal portion of the catheter body, said elongate tensioning element being secured at a point in the distal portion such that when pulled, the distal portion deflects; a heat-sensitive control member located in the control unit and coupled to a proximal end of the elongate tensioning element; and a heat source positioned to apply heat to the heat-sensitive control member; wherein the heat-sensitive control member has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion such that when heat is applied to the heat-sensitive control member, the heat-sensitive control member contracts, places the elongate tensioning element in tension, and deflects the distal portion of the catheter.