Catheter including a bendable portion

Abstract

A catheter having a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube, and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter comprising:
 a tube having at least one lumen;   at least one elongate element, said at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of said tube; and   at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of said at least one lumen, said at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, said rearward end of said balloon being located rearwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location.   
     
     
         2 . A catheter according to  claim 1  and wherein said forward end of said balloon is located rearwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         3 . A catheter according to  claim 1  and wherein said forward end of said balloon is located forwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         4 . A catheter according to  claim 1  and also comprising a steering element coupled to said elongate element forwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         5 . A catheter according to  claim 4  and wherein said steering element is manipulatable by an operator for steering of said catheter. 
     
     
         6 . A catheter according to  claim 4  and wherein said steering element is operative to apply a pulling force to a distal portion of said elongate element. 
     
     
         7 . A catheter according to  claim 6  and wherein said pulling force causes said distal portion to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of said catheter. 
     
     
         8 . A catheter according to  claim 7  and wherein said at least one elongate element is resilient and returns to its axial orientation when said pulling force is no longer applied thereto. 
     
     
         9 . A catheter according to  claim 1  and wherein a diameter of said balloon when fully inflated is in the range of 35-45 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A catheter comprising:
 a tube having at least one lumen and having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong; and   at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of said at least one lumen, said at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, said rearward end of said balloon being located rearwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location.   
     
     
         11 . A catheter according to  claim 10  and wherein said forward end of said balloon is located rearwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         12 . A catheter according to  claim 10  and wherein said forward end of said balloon is located forwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         13 . A catheter according to  claim 10  and also comprising a steering element coupled to said tube forwardly of said predetermined bendable portion location. 
     
     
         14 . A catheter according to  claim 13  and wherein said steering element is manipulatable by an operator for steering of said catheter. 
     
     
         15 . A catheter according to  claim 13  and wherein said steering element is operative to apply a pulling force to a distal portion of said tube. 
     
     
         16 . A catheter according to  claim 15  and wherein said pulling force causes said distal portion to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of said catheter. 
     
     
         17 . A catheter according to  claim 16  and wherein said tube is resilient and returns to its axial orientation when said pulling force is no longer applied thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A catheter according to  claim 10  and wherein a diameter of said balloon when fully inflated is in the range of 35-45 mm.