Dual-profile steerable catheter

A catheter comprising:

• a sheath including a proximal region and a distal-end region;
• a first steering tendon housed within the sheath, the first steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a point proximate an inner surface of the sheath, and a second end located at the proximal region of the sheath, wherein movement of the first steering tendon in a proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect;
• and
• a second steering tendon housed within the sheath, the second steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a point proximate the inner surface of the sheath at a point proximal to the attachment point of the first steering tendon, and a second end located at the proximal region of the sheath, wherein movement of the second steering tendon in the proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect.

A catheter for use with biological tissue, the catheter comprising:

• a sheath including a proximal region and a distal-end region;
• at least one electrode located in the distal-end region for transferring energy to the biological tissue;
• a first steering tendon housed within the sheath, the first steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a point proximate an inner surface of the sheath, and a second end exiting a proximal end of the sheath, wherein movement of the first steering tendon in a proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect;
• and
• a second steering tendon housed within the sheath, the second steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a point proximate the inner surface of the sheath at a point proximal to the attachment point of the first steering tendon, and a second end exiting the proximal end of the sheath, wherein movement of the second steering tendon in the proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect.

A catheter comprising:

• a sheath including a proximal region, a distal-end region, and a longitudinal centerline;
• a first steering tendon housed within the sheath, the first steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a location offset from the centerline of the sheath, and a second end exiting a proximal end of the sheath, wherein movement of the first steering tendon in a proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect;
• and
• a second steering tendon housed within the sheath, the second steering tendon having a first end attached to the distal-end region at a location offset from the centerline of the sheath, and a second end exiting the proximal end of the sheath, wherein movement of the second steering tendon in the proximal direction causes the sheath distal-end region to deflect.