Catheter having a multiple durometer

摘要

A catheter (20) has a housing (30) of such a size as to be readily held in the hand of the user, and an elongate tube (40) connected to and extending from the housing. The tube (40) is formed of a flexible polymeric material. A distal portion (43) of the tube is coaxial with a proximal portion (41) and has substantially the same outer circumference as the proximal portion. The distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion. A pair of control wires extends longitudinally through the proximal and distal portions (41,43) and parallel to the axis of these portions for bending the portions in response to movement of the control wires. A control is carried by the housing (30) for controlling the movement of the control wires to thereby bend the flexible portions and remotely manipulate the catheter within a human body.