Controlled flexible catheter

A catheter comprising:

• (a) a tubular body, made from a first material, said body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough, said distal end of said body comprising at least two strips within said body, said strips formed of a material which has a different bending stiffness than said first material, said strips separated from each other in both the axial and longitudinal directions, whereby said body said strips have a greater bending stiffness than said first material so that said tubular body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions;
• and
• (b) a pull wire extending through said lumen, said pull wire having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said pull wire is attached to said distal end of said tubular body so that when said proximal end of said pull wire is pulled, said catheter can bend in two separate directions.

A catheter comprising:

• (a) a tubular body made from a first material, said body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough, said distal end having a cap attached thereto, said distal end of said body comprising at least two strips within said body, said strips formed of a material which has a different bending stiffness than said first material, said strips separated from each other in both the axial and longitudinal directions, whereby said body, said strips of material have a greater bending stiffness than said first material so that said tubular body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions;
• and (b) a pull wire extending through said lumen, said pull wire having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said pull wire is attached to said cap so that when said proximal end of said pull wire is pulled, said catheter can bend in two separate directions.