Appeal No. 1998-1045 Application 08/482,674 See Figures 2 and 5. Rotation of the housing 14 and the ring gear 24 causes the rotation of the pinion gear 25 and the core member 21. The torque applied to the core member 21 is transmitted to the distal tip of the guidewire or catheter. See col. 5, lines 24-33. Jackowski discloses a steerable suction/ablation catheter 10 including a tubular body 12 defining a lumen 14, a wire member 16 loosely positioned in lumen 14, and a tubular electrode 18 positioned adjacent the distal end 20 of the catheter. The distal tip 24 of wire member 16 is hooked into electrical contact with electrode 18 and soldered in place. See col. 3, lines 33-41. Jackowski further discloses that end portion 26 of wire member 16 is typically tapered and flattened which helps to direct the tip portion 28 of catheter 10 into a predetermined direction of bending which is generally perpendicular to the plane of flattened end 26. Jackowski also teaches that “[a]ntirotation lock means may be provided to prevent rotation of wire member 16 to avoid spiraling or twisting thereof” (col. 3, lines 55-57). During use, the catheter is inserted into a vein of the patient with 7Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007