| CPC A61B 17/3207 (2013.01) [A61M 25/04 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00331 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22044 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22071 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22094 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61M 25/1002 (2013.01); A61M 25/1011 (2013.01); A61M 25/10184 (2013.11)] | 21 Claims |

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1. Apparatus for passing a blocked blood vessel, comprising:
(a) an intravascular catheter body defining at least one lumen;
(b) a radially expandable anchor at a distal end of said catheter; and
(c) a penetration tool sized and shaped to be delivered by said at least one lumen to a point distal of said radially expandable anchor, said penetration tool including a tip and configured for being pushed through a blood vessel blockage;
wherein said penetration tool is bendable at a bend location at a distal end thereof such that said tip is steerable;
wherein said penetration tool is adapted for bending by pre-cutting thereof;
wherein said pre-cutting comprises a first defining cuts on a concave side of said penetration tool which resist further bending after reaching a pre-selected bending angle and a second defining cuts on an opposite side of said first defining cuts;
wherein each cut of said first defining cuts define:
i. a first edge comprising a wall;
ii. a second edge comprising lateral sections and a middle section between said lateral sections;
iii. a tab extending from said middle section of said second edge in a direction towards said wall of said first edge; said middle section extending more than said lateral sections;
wherein during said bending said tab of said second edge and said wall of said first edge meet, engaging and locking with each other, thereby providing said resistance to further bending while additionally providing stiffening of said penetration tool.
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