Importance

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Abstract

A elongate tubular catheter uses spirally sliced tubes to provide flexible support having pushability in a number of roles. The spirally sliced tube may be used in place of a stiffening tube thereby providing a catheter that can have variable degrees of flexibility along its length. Alternatively, the spirally sliced tube may be used in place of a compression wire or other puller wire sleeve. The spirally sliced tubes may also be used as the inner or outer wall of an irrigation lumen within the catheter. The flexibility of the catheter can be easily modified during manufacture by varying the pitch angle of the spiral slice. Flexibility along the length of the catheter can also be modified by using one or more spirally sliced tubes or tubes in which only portions are spirally sliced.

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First Claim