Importance

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Abstract

A deflectable catheter comprises a catheter body, a tip section and a control handle. The Control handle, which is preferably curved, comprises a housing having a generally hollow interior, a piston receiving assembly at least partially within the interior of the housing, and a piston. The piston receiving assembly is afforded rotational movement but not longitudinal movement relative to the housing and comprises a generally tubular member defining a piston chamber. The piston is fixedly attached to the proximal end of the catheter body and extends into the piston chamber of the piston receiving assembly, wherein the piston is afforded longitudinal movement but not rotational movement relative to the piston receiving assembly. Rotation of the piston relative to the housing correspondingly rotates the piston receiving assembly, catheter body and tip section. A puller wire extends from the control handle, through a lumen in the catheter body and into a lumen in the tip section. The proximal end of the puller wire is anchored in the control handle, whereby distal movement of the piston relative to the piston receiving assembly results in distal movement of the catheter body relative to the puller wire. The puller wire is anchored in the tip section so that to distal movement of the catheter body relative to the puller wire deflects the tip section.

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First Claim