Method and apparatus for curving a catheter

A catheter that can be deployed with a curved shape, comprising:

• a first channel, a hard polymer ring that creates a stiffened section extending along a distal portion of the catheter, and a soft section proximal of the stiffened section which has a lower bending resistance than the stiffened section;
• a resilient fiber with a preformed curve shape in a portion thereof, said fiber being disposed within the first channel and slidable therein between a first position in which the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is contained substantially within a length of the stiffened section of the catheter created by the hard polymer ring and is maintained in a straightened orientation within said stiffened section, and a second position in which at least part of the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is pulled in a proximal direction out of the stiffened section created by the hard polymer ring and into the soft section and thereby imparts a curve shape to the catheter;
• wherein the hard polymer ring is a cylindrical-shaped marker band provided near a distal end of the catheter.

A catheter that can be deployed with a curved shape, comprising:

• a first channel, a hard polymer ring that creates a stiffened section extending along a distal portion of the catheter, and a soft section proximal of the stiffened section which has a lower bending resistance than the stiffened section;
• a resilient fiber with a preformed curve shape in a portion thereof, said fiber being disposed within the first channel and slidable therein between a first position in which the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is contained substantially within a length of the stiffened section of the catheter created by the hard polymer ring and is maintained in a straightened orientation within said stiffened section, and a second position in which at least part of the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is pulled in a proximal direction out of the stiffened section created by the hard polymer ring and into the soft section and thereby imparts a curve shape to the catheter;
• further comprising a primary lumen adjacent to the first channel, and wherein said hard polymer ring surrounds the primary lumen and the first channel.

A catheter that can be deployed with a curved shape, comprising:

• a first channel, a hard polymer ring that creates a stiffened section extending along a distal portion of the catheter, and a soft section proximal of the stiffened section which has a lower bending resistance than the stiffened section;
• a resilient fiber with a preformed curve shape in a portion thereof, said fiber being disposed within the first channel and slidable therein between a first position in which the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is contained substantially within a length of the stiffened section of the catheter created by the hard polymer ring and is maintained in a straightened orientation within said stiffened section, and a second position in which at least part of the preformed portion of the resilient fiber is pulled in a proximal direction out of the stiffened section created by the hard polymer ring and into the soft section and thereby imparts a curve shape to the catheter;
• further comprising a second channel and a second resilient fiber which is slidable within the second channel to temporarily straighten the catheter to adjust its position within the body.