Bi-directional and multi-directional miniscopes

A guidable catheter for insertion in a mammalian body, said device comprising:

• (a) a flexible catheter sheath having a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
• (b) a bending assembly positioned on the distal end of said catheter sheath, said bending assembly comprising:
• i. a tubular spring frame having a longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends, and a hollow bore extending longitudinally therethrough;
• ii. at least one first series of substantially parallel relief slots cut partway through said tubular spring frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, each of said relief slots being of a first width having end cutout regions on either end thereof, said end cut out regions being of a second width which is greater than said first width;
• iii. said relief slots being sized and located relative to one another so as to render said tubular spring frame bendable in at least one lateral direction;
• (c) at least one tension wire extending longitudinally through said catheter sheath and through the bore of said tubular spring frame, said tension wire being connected to said tubular spring frame near the distal end thereof, said tension wire being controllable from the proximal end of said catheter sheath such that retraction of said tension wire in the proximal direction will cause said tubular spring frame to bend in a lateral direction and subsequent relaxation of said tension wire will allow said tubular spring frame to return to a straight non-bent configuration.