Guide catheter with shape memory retention

A catheter assembly comprising:

• a generally elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end;
• means for selectively providing a stimulus to at least a portion of the shaft;
• wherein at least a portion of the shaft is formed of a material responsive to the stimulus for selectively changing at least a portion of the shaft between a generally softened, ductile state and a second curved stiff state relative to the softened, ductile state;
• and
• wherein the means for providing a stimulus further includes at least one heating mechanism and means for selectively controlling the heating mechanism, wherein the heating mechanism is a resistance heat coil.

A catheter assembly for changing the shape of a catheter during a catheter procedure comprising:

• a generally elongate shaft formed of shape memory material having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end;
• a core member insertable within the lumen for selectively providing a stimulus to at least a portion of the catheter shaft;
• and
• wherein the portion of the shaft is formed of a material responsive to the stimulus for changing at least a portion of the shaft between a first ductile state and a second more stiff, curved state relative to said first state.

A method of positioning a tubular member within a patient's vascular system during a catheter procedure, the method comprising:

• providing an elongate shaft;
• inserting the shaft within the patient's vascular system;
• and
• advancing an elongate tubular member formed of shape memory material over the shaft wherein the shaft provides a stimulus to at least a portion of the tubular member for changing the tubular member between a softened, ductile state and a second, curved, stiff state relative to the softened, ductile state.

A method of changing the shape of a tubular member located within a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of:

• providing a core having selectively controllable heating sections;
• inserting the core within the tubular member;
• and
• heating at least one heating section for changing the shape of at least a portion of the tubular member formed of a thermoset memory retention polymer, wherein the portion of the tubular member is responsive to the heat provided by the heating section for changing the portion of the tubular member between a first, ductile state and a second, curved, more stiff state relative to said first, ductile state.

A catheter assembly for positioning and changing the shape of a catheter during a catheter procedure, the catheter assembly comprising:

• a generally elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the shaft includes a first section and a second section formed of a thermoset polymer;
• a core member insertable within the lumen including first means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft and second means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft;
• and
• wherein the first section is responsive to the first means for providing a thermal stimulus, for changing the first section between a first ductile state and a second, curved more stiff state relative to said first state, and wherein the second section is responsive to the second means for providing a thermal stimulus for changing the second section between a first, ductile state and a second, curved, more stiff state relative to said first state.