Apparatus and methods for catheter steerability

A method of bending a distal end portion of a catheter assembly, comprising:

• providing the distal end portion of the catheter assembly with a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion, the second shaft portion extending through a lumen defined by the first shaft portion, the first shaft portion including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first openings, the second shaft portion including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second openings, the first and second shaft portions being connected at the distal end of the catheter assembly at a connection point along the first shaft portion;
• pushing or pulling the second shaft portion relative to the first shaft portion to apply a longitudinally directed force to the second shaft portion to bend the first shaft portion, wherein the second shaft portion is configured to bend in a first direction upon application of a distally directed longitudinal force causing the first shaft portion to bend in the first direction.

A catheter portion, comprising:

• a body portion having a bendable section, the body portion defining a lumen, a series of longitudinally spaced apart first openings being defined in the bendable section;
• a steering member extending through the lumen of the body portion and connected at a distal end thereof to the body portion at a connection point along the bendable section, the steering member including a series of longitudinally spaced apart second openings;
• wherein application of only an axial force to the steering member bends the steering member and bends the bendable section of the body portion, and wherein the steering member is configured to bend in a first direction upon application of a distally directed axial force causing the body portion to bend in the first direction.

A method of bending a distal end portion of a catheter assembly, comprising:

• providing the distal end portion of the catheter assembly with a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion, the second shaft portion extending through a lumen defined by the first shaft portion, the first shaft portion including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first openings, the second shaft portion including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second openings;
• pushing or pulling the second shaft portion relative to the first shaft portion to apply a longitudinally directed force to the second shaft portion to bend the first shaft portion;
• wherein operating the second shaft portion includes axially advancing or axially retracting the second shaft portion to change a size or shape of the second openings and a size or shape of the first openings.