Abstract: An electro-magnetic coil with coolant permeability wound using insulated wire includes a plurality of radially arranged layers and a plurality of axially arranged turns of the insulated wire per layer, wherein the insulated wire has a plurality of sections along its length with different cross-sections for any pair of two adjacent sections that collectively form into axial and radial coolant channels as the wire is wound around a core.

Abstract: A steerable catheter (10) comprises portions (100, 105) of different stiffness, having a proximal end (11), a distal end, a lumen extending there between, at least one magnet (20) at the proximal end (11), at least a magnetic field to influence the proximal end (11), wherein portions (100, 105) of the steerable catheter (10) can be of different stiffness. The portions (100, 105) of different stiffness are in fact portions of variable stiffness based on a phase change between a liquid phase and a solid phase of a liquid-solid material in a at least partly double walled catheter providing a cavity for this liquid-solid material and having additional control elements configured to influence the phase of the liquid-solid material.

Abstract: A device (10) for navigation within a patient's body, said apparatus comprising a tubular structure having an inner lumen and relatively rigid proximal (15) and distal portions (14) separated by at least one very flexible joint (12) with constant inner diameter and small bending radius. At least one magnetic element (13) is embedded in the distal portion of the device and responsive to externally applied magnetic fields, such that the orientation of distal portion aligns approximately with an externally applied magnetic field (B). The inner lumen of the device allows a flexible medical instrument (17) (e.g. catheter, endoscope, etc.) to be inserted and retracted, such that the flexible medical device is effectively steered in the direction of the lumen's distal section.