| CPC A61F 2/966 (2013.01) [A61F 2/82 (2013.01); A61F 2/86 (2013.01); A61F 2/90 (2013.01); A61F 2/92 (2013.01); A61F 2/95 (2013.01); A61F 2/958 (2013.01); A61F 2/962 (2013.01); A61F 2/97 (2013.01); A61M 25/0053 (2013.01); A61M 25/008 (2013.01); A61F 2002/823 (2013.01); A61F 2002/9505 (2013.01); A61F 2002/9528 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0091 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0018 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |

|
1. A method of operating a stent delivery system, the method comprising:
inserting a core member into a catheter in a tortuous configuration, the core member comprising a longitudinally extending tube having a helical cut extending along the tube, the helical cut having an axial length of at least 50 cm and being continuous along the axial length;
pushing the core member through the tortuous catheter; and
by pushing the core member, causing the tube to flex along the helical cut, thereby facilitating advancement of the core member through the tortuous catheter.
|