STEERABLE CATHETER HAVING SEGMENTED TIP AND ONE-PIECE INLET HOUSING

摘要

A steerable catheter having a segmented tip formed from materials of differing hardnesses. A tip segment formed of softer material provides improved steerability, while an adjacent harder segment provides improved resistance against steering wire pull-through. Wear-resistant sleeves and a coined loop portion of steering wire provide additional resistance against steering wire pull-through. A tip fabrication method is also disclosed. The catheter includes a one-piece inlet housing with integral mounting fins for attachment to the catheter housing.