CATHETER

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a catheter within a tubular organ by developing a desired bending of the catheter with a simple construction. CONSTITUTION:This catheter 10 is used by inserting it into a tubular organ and has at least one passage piercing it through the entire length thereof and shape memory alloy wire-shaped bodies 16A and 16B in a tube wall thereof or on an internal wall surface or an external wall surface thereof extending at least in one axial direction. A part 12 of the catheter near the tip thereof is made of a relatively soft material. In addition, the part other than that near the tip comprises a material with the rigidity thereof higher than that near the tip thereof and is heated by heat generated by an internal resistance when the shape memory allow wire-shaped bodies 16A and 16B are electrified and the temperature thereof varies to change the shape of the catheter 10 at the part 12 near the tip thereof.