APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE ARTICULATION OF A CATHETER

摘要

A delivery apparatus for delivering a surgical device comprising, a catheter having a distal segment, a proximate segment, and a lumen. The distal segment has a first configuration having a curved shape. A delivery component is then inserted within the lumen of the catheter where the delivery component has a first and a second segment wherein the first segment has rigidity greater than the catheter and the second segment having rigidity less than the catheter. The distal segment of the catheter is bent straight into a second configuration by the first segment of the delivery component that is more rigid than the catheter when that segment is moved along the entire distal end of the catheter. The catheter can then bend into a third configuration that is curved when the delivery component is moved so that a second segment of the delivery component comes into contact with lumen of the distal end of the catheter where the distal end of the catheter is more rigid than the second segment of the delivery component.