Catheter support structure

Claim 1

A catheter having a longitudinal axis, said catheter comprising: a flexible hollow shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end sized to be inserted into a patient's body lumen; said shaft including at least a segment having: A. a flexible tubular layer having an inner lumen with said tubular layer enclosing said catheter lumen; B. a support structure secured to said layer for maintaining said inner lumen and for transmitting forces along a length of said segment, said support structure including: (a) a plurality of support struts each having first and second ends longitudinally spaced apart along said axis, said struts extending at least partially around said axis from said first ends to said second ends; (b) said plurality of support struts including a first set of said struts and a second set of said struts; (c) said struts of said first set curving around said axis in a clockwise direction relative to a first end of said segment; (d) said struts of said second set curving around said axis in a counter-clockwise direction relative to said first end of said segment; and (e) said struts of said first and second sets disposed in a common radial layer spaced from said axis.