Device for heart repair

Abstract

A catheter for insertion into the body, a method of use of a catheter for insertion into the body, and a method of manufacture of a catheter for insertion into the body are described. A catheter (1) for insertion into the body comprises: a flexible body portion (2) having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the catheter (1) towards a distal end of the catheter (1); and a tensile member (3) comprising a first portion (3a) extending along a first length of the tensile member (3) and a second portion (3b) extending along a second length of the tensile member (3), the tensile member (3) in communication with and extending along an outer part of the flexible body portion (2); wherein the tensile member (3) is configured to follow a curvature of the flexible body portion (2) when the catheter (1) is curved; wherein the first portion (3a) is configured to increase a longitudinal stiffness of the catheter (1); and wherein the second portion (3b) is slack along its length when the flexible body portion (2) is in the unconstrained position, such that a longitudinal stiffness of the second portion (3b) is reduced relative to the first portion (3a) until the slack has been taken up through flexing of the catheter (1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.