Catheter system

A method of assembling a catheter system having a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft, and a handle, the method comprising:

• inserting one end of the catheter into a connector, the connector being generally tubular and having a sidewall, an open front end, an open rear end and a channel extending longitudinally within the connector from the front end to the rear end thereof, at least a lengthwise segment of the channel being sized in transverse cross-section greater than an outer cross-section of the catheter shaft, the inserting comprising inserting the one end of the catheter shaft into the channel of the connector such that the catheter shaft is spaced from the connector within said lengthwise segment of the channel;
• directing adhesive to flow through a port in the sidewall of the connector into the lengthwise segment of the channel such that the adhesive flows circumferentially about the catheter shaft within the channel of the connector;
• allowing the adhesive to cure;
• and
• retaining the connector on the handle.

A catheter system comprising:

• a catheter having an elongate flexible shaft, the shaft having an outer surface defining an outer transverse cross-sectional dimension;
• and
• a handle having a connector for connecting the catheter to the handle, the connector being generally tubular having a sidewall, an open front end, an open rear end and a channel extending longitudinally within the connector from the front end to the rear end thereof for receiving and retaining the catheter shaft in the connector, the connector sidewall having an outer surface and at least one projection extending transversely outward from the outer surface of the connector sidewall;
• and
• a flex relief member retained on the handle, the flex relief member being generally tubular and having a sidewall, an open front end, an open rear end and a channel extending longitudinally from the front end to the rear end of the flex relief member and being sized in transverse cross-section along its length to permit the throughpassage of the catheter shaft, said channel of the flex relief member including a housing segment extending longitudinally forward from the rear end of the flex relief member and configured for receiving at least a portion of the connector, front end first, into the channel of the flex relief member, the flex relief member further having at least one longitudinally extending groove open to the channel within the housing segment of the flex relief member and corresponding to the at least one projection of the connector to receive the at least one projection of the connector into said at least one groove to thereby inhibit rotation of the connector relative to the flex relief member following insertion of the connector into the flex relief member.