Torquable catheter and torquable tubular member for use therewith

A torquable tubular member for use in a flexible elongate device comprising an elongate tubular body having a cylindrical wall having a length and having a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the cylindrical wall, said cylindrical wall having first and second sections, said cylindrical wall having a plurality of spaced-apart slots extending along the longitudinal axis of each of said first and second sections, said cylindrical wall being formed with a recess between the first and second sections, said slots having a width along the longitudinal axis, said recess having a width along the longitudinal axis which is substantially greater than the width of the slots, said slots and said recess being circumferentially aligned so that a rib is defined which extends longitudinally of the longitudinal axis.

A catheter having a high flexibility comprising an elongate flexible body having a length, a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the elongate flexible body, the elongate flexible body including a cylindrical wall having a passage extending longitudinally of the cylindrical wall, at least a portion of which is formed of a metal and is adjacent the distal extremity, at least a portion of said cylindrical wall of metal having formed therein a plurality of slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, said slots subtending at angles of less than 360.degree., said slots imparting additional flexibility to said cylindrical wall of metal to permit bending about the longitudinal axis without permanent deformation of the metal, control means on the proximal end of the flexible elongate body and extending to the distal end of the body for transmitting a force to the distal end of the body to cause bending of said at least a portion of said cylindrical wall of metal having the slots therein.

A tubular assembly comprising a tubular member having longitudinal axis and a cylindrical wall extending along the longitudinal axis, the cylindrical wall having at least a portion thereof having a plurality of L-shaped slots formed therein facing in the same direction and spaced apart longitudinally of the cylindrical wall along the longitudinal axis, each of said L-shaped slots subtending less than 360.degree., each of said L-shaped slots having a first portion having a width which extends generally circumferentially of the cylindrical wall and a second portion which extends generally longitudinally of the cylindrical wall beyond the width of the first portion, said L-shaped slots being aligned circumferentially and defining a rib extending longitudinally of the longitudinal axis and means connected to the tubular member for causing bending of the portion of the tubular member having the L-shaped slots therein.