Steerable catheter with tip alignment and surface contact detector

摘要

A steerable percutaneous catheter for guiding at least one functional device to selected surfaces of a body for treatment thereon, particularly adapted for laser-assisted percutaneous transluminal revascularization (PTMR). The steerable catheter has a handle portion at its proximal end and a controllably deflectable end portion at its distal end. The distal end of the catheter and the distal end of the functional device maintain alignment automatically during deflection. The invention also includes a surface contact detection system to detect contact with an interior body surface, such as the heart wall. <IMAGE>