Abstract: A catheter comprises a shaft defining a lumen and having a distal section. The shaft includes an inner member and a support member disposed on the inner member. The support member includes a proximal woven portion and a distal woven portion separated by an intermediate nonwoven portion. The distal woven portion includes an outer surface. The proximal woven portion is coupled to the distal woven portion by interconnecting threads of the intermediate portion. The shaft further includes an electrode on the distal section of the shaft, a tube extending along the shaft, and a lead conductor disposed within the tube and electrically coupled to the electrode. The tube extends radially underneath the proximal woven portion, extends on the outer surface along the distal woven portion, and extends from underneath the proximal woven portion to the outer surface at the intermediate nonwoven portion through the interconnecting threads.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes an elongated shaft defining a lumen and having a distal portion. The elongated shaft includes an outermost elongated support member coaxial with the lumen. The support member includes an outer side. An electrode is disposed on the distal portion of the elongated shaft. An elongated tube extends longitudinally along the elongated shaft, and the elongated tube interfaces with the support member along the outer side. A lead conductor is disposed within the tube and electrically coupled to the electrode. A coupling member is disposed about the tube and outer side of the support member such that the coupling member couples the tube to the support member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a reinforced steerable sheath assembly that is usable with an actuator comprising a shaft section defining a sheath that is operable to be deflected, and one or more pull wires that are coupled to the sheath via a coupling at a point of contact between the pull wires and the sheath. The pull wires being operable to be coupled to the actuator for actuating the pull wires. The reinforced steerable sheath assembly further comprises a means for preventing displacement of the coupling, wherein the means for preventing displacement to minimize failure at the coupling at the point of contact between the pull wires and the sheath upon actuation of the pull wires upon actuation of the actuator to deflect the sheath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a reinforced steerable sheath assembly that is usable with an actuator comprising a shaft section defining a sheath that is operable to be deflected, and one or more pull wires that are coupled to the sheath via a coupling at a point of contact between the pull wires and the sheath. The pull wires being operable to be coupled to the actuator for actuating the pull wires. The reinforced steerable sheath assembly further comprises a means for preventing displacement of the coupling, wherein the means for preventing displacement to minimize failure at the coupling at the point of contact between the pull wires and the sheath upon actuation of the pull wires upon actuation of the actuator to deflect the sheath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a modified tip for a sheath assembly that provides enhanced radiopacity while maintaining the distal tip profile to maintain adequate tip stiffness and tip transition force. The disclosed method and apparatus provide a distal tip segment for a sheath assembly comprising a region of increased wall thickness along a portion or section of the distal tip segment, providing increased cross-sectional area there-along to provide enhanced radiopacity, and a distal most section of the distal tip segment having a reduced or minimal profile to provide an atraumatic tip while maintaining sufficient stiffness for crossability. The distal tip segment is operable to be coupled to a proximal shaft portion of the sheath assembly, to provide enhanced radiopacity while maintaining the distal tip profile to maintain adequate tip stiffness.