Catheter guiding system and methods

A guidance system for accessing a target area within a body, the guidance system comprising:

• a catheter having a lumen therethrough;
• a tip ring attached to a distal end of the catheter to form a guidable catheter, the tip ring having a proximal surface, a distal surface, a first indentation extending proximally from the distal surface, a first saddle formed as a raised surface within the first indentation, with inclined surfaces of the first saddle extending from the first indentation to an apex of the first saddle that is equal or proximal to the distal surface having the first indentation, a first and second pullwire channel extending proximally from the inclined surfaces;
• and a first pullwire that extends through the first pullwire channel to exit from an opening on one of the inclined surfaces of the first saddle, over the apex of the first saddle, and extends proximally through an opening of the second pullwire channel formed in the other of the inclined surfaces and through the second pullwire channel, the first pullwire being configured to engage with the first saddle of the tip ring upon application of tension to the first pullwire, the first pullwire thereby subjecting the guidable catheter to a first curving force;
• further comprising a second pullwire and a third pullwire extending to the tip ring and configured to engage with a second saddle and a third saddle formed in the tip ring, respectively, the second saddle and the third saddle being formed as raised surfaces within second and third indentations in the distal surface.

A guidance system for accessing a target area within a body, the guidance system comprising:

• a guidable catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a tip ring attached to the distal end of the guidable catheter, the tip ring having a distal surface with a first indentation in the distal surface, a first saddle formed within the first indentation and comprising a pair of inclined surfaces extending to an apex of the saddle that is equal or proximal to the distal surface having the first indentation, the pair of inclined surfaces extending from a base of the first indentation an indentation formed in the tip ring to the apex, with openings formed in the inclined surfaces;
• and a first pullwire extending to the first saddle, exiting a first opening of the openings, looping around the apex of the first saddle, and extending proximally through a second opening of the openings, the first pullwire being configured to engage with the first saddle of the tip ring upon application of tension to the first pullwire, the first pullwire thereby subjecting the guidable catheter to a first curving force upon application of tension to the first pullwire;
• further comprising a second pullwire and a third pullwire extending to the tip ring and configured to engage with a second saddle and a third saddle formed in the tip ring, respectively, the second saddle and the third saddle being formed as raised surfaces within second and third indentations in the distal surface.