| CPC A61M 25/0147 (2013.01) | 30 Claims |

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1. A steerable catheter comprising:
an elongate shaft member comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a steerable portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the elongate shaft member configured to be deliverable at least partially through a bodily opening leading to a bodily cavity with the distal portion ahead of the proximal portion;
an actuator located at least proximate the proximal portion, the actuator operatively coupled to the steerable portion to transmit force thereto to steer at least the steerable portion; and
an axial member incorporated in the elongate shaft member and extending along a length of the elongate shaft member, the axial member including an axis extending between the proximal portion of the elongate shaft member and the distal portion of the elongate shaft member,
wherein, at a particular location along the axis of the axial member, a cross-section of the axial member comprises a first edge portion and a second edge portion located on an opposite side of the cross-section of the axial member from the first edge portion, the first edge portion and the second edge portion defining an external boundary of the cross-section of the axial member, the cross-section of the axial member perpendicular to the axis of the axial member, and
wherein, a particular part of the first edge portion exhibits a first radius of curvature at a particular point on the first edge portion, and a particular part of the second edge portion exhibits a second radius of curvature at a particular point on the second edge portion, the second radius of curvature having a magnitude that is greater than a magnitude of the first radius of curvature, the particular part of the first edge portion located further from an interior-most location within the elongate shaft member in a plane of the cross-section of the axial member than the particular part of the second edge portion.
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