| 主权项 |
1. A steerable medical device, comprising:
an outer flexible polymeric tubular member; an inner flexible polymeric tubular member disposed within the outer tubular member; a steerable portion comprising the outer and inner flexible polymeric tubular members, the outer and inner flexible polymeric tubular members are each configured to preferentially bend in the steerable portion, and wherein the outer and inner flexible polymeric tubular members are permanently axially fixed relative to one another at a fixation location distal to the steerable portion, wherein the inner flexible polymeric tubular member, in the steerable portion, includes first and second polymeric sections interfacing at a seam, the seam including a transition section that is not parallel with and not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inner flexible polymeric tubular member, the first and second polymeric sections having first and second stiffnesses, respectively, that are different than one another, and wherein the different stiffnesses contribute to the direction of the preferential bending of the inner flexible polymeric tubular member; and an external controller that is configured to, upon actuation, axially move at least one of the outer and inner flexible polymeric tubular members relative to the other at a location proximal to the steerable portion to cause relative axial movement between the outer and inner flexible polymeric tubular members in the steerable portion and thereby steer the steerable portion. |
