ARTICULATING CATHETER FOR CRYOABLATION, INCLUDING FLEXIBLE TIP WITH HIGH FLEXIBILITY TO ACCURATELY LOCATE THE TIP IN VASCULATURE OF PATIENT

摘要

PURPOSE: An articulating catheter is provided to permit the catheter to have a flexible tip having a superior flexibility to accurately locate the tip in the vasculature of a patient. CONSTITUTION: A cryo-cooling apparatus(100) for ablating tissue of a patient, comprises a handle(104); a catheter(102) extended from the handle in such a manner that the catheter transmits a torque divided by the handle; a bendable portion arranged at an end of a main shaft such that the bendable portion has a minimum diameter smaller than the diameter of the main shaft; a tip portion for forming an expansion chamber for coolant fluid, wherein the tip portion has a diameter larger than the minimum diameter, and is disposed at an end of the bendable portion; an elastic element for forming a preferred bendable plane of the bendable portion; and an actuator arranged to tightly contact the bendable portion, and connected to an end of the catheter.