Steerable guide with partial sleeve

A catheter system, comprising:

• (a) a proximal rigid portion defining a longitudinal axis;
• (b) a distal flexible portion configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis between a straight configuration and a bent configuration, the proximal rigid portion and the distal flexible portion defining a lumen;
• (c) an articulation drive operative coupled to the distal flexible portion, the articulation drive being configured to drive the distal flexible portion between the straight configuration and the bent configuration;
• and
• (d) a sleeve associated with the distal flexible portion such that the sleeve is configured to deflect with the distal flexible portion relative to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising a pair of longitudinally extending edges together defining a longitudinally extending gap, the longitudinally extending gap being laterally interposed between the longitudinally extending edges.

A catheter system, comprising:

• (a) a guide member assembly, comprising:
• (i) a proximal rigid portion defining a longitudinal axis,
• (ii) a distal flexible portion comprising a longitudinally extending resilient spine and a plurality of flexing bodies defining a plurality of adjustable gaps, and
• (iii) an open distal end;
• (b) an articulation drive configured to flex the distal flexible portion relative to the longitudinal axis from a straight configuration into a bent configuration;
• and
• (c) a sleeve attached to the distal flexible portion such that the sleeve is configured to flex with the distal flexible portion relative to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve defining a crescent shaped as viewed from a longitudinal end of the sleeve, the crescent shape being bound by a pair of longitudinally extending edges, the pair of longitudinally extending edges define a longitudinally extending gap adjacent to the longitudinally extending resilient spine.

A catheter system, comprising:

• (a) a shaft, comprising:
• (i) a rigid proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis,
• (ii) a flexible proximal portion configured to flex relative to the longitudinal axis into a bent configuration, and
• (iii) an open distal end, the shaft defining a lumen extending from the rigid proximal portion through the flexible proximal portion and terminating into the open distal end;
• and
• (b) a sleeve coextending along a common length shared with the distal flexible portion, the sleeve defining a C-shape as viewed from a longitudinal end of the partial sleeve, the C-shape defining a longitudinally extending gap.