Catheter devices and methods for making them

An apparatus for performing a procedure within a patient's body, comprising:

• a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, a central axis extending therebetween, and a distal portion extending distally from an intermediate portion to the distal end;
• a primary lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends and surrounding at least a portion of the central axis;
• a steering element lumen extending at least partially between the proximal and distal ends adjacent the primary lumen;
• a steering element slidably disposed within the steering element lumen and comprising a distal end fixed to the tubular member distal end and a proximal end adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member;
• an actuator on the proximal end coupled to the steering element proximal end such that, actuation of the actuator applies axial tension or compression to the steering element, thereby causing the distal portion to bend;
• a compression-resistant element slidably disposed within the steering element lumen and extending from the proximal end through the intermediate portion adjacent the steering element for preventing forces from the steering element from transferring to the tubular member proximal to the distal portion;
• and
• a stop within the tubular member intermediate portion adjacent the distal end of the compression-resistant element for limiting compression of the tubular member in bending when the distal end of the compression-resistant element contacts the stop,
• wherein the compression-resistant element includes a distal end loose within the intermediate portion, thereby defining the distal portion between the compression-resistant element distal end and the tubular member distal end.