MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED STIFFNESS OF MATERIALS

1 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . A method for improving fluid communication between a handpiece tip and an aspiration pump, comprising:

aspirating a fluid from a surgical site with the handpiece tip through aspiration tubing with the aspiration pump;

activating a magnetic field source communicatively coupled to a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion of the aspiration tubing,

wherein the aspiration tubing exhibits increased rigidity in response to the activated magnetic field source.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the aspiration pump is a vacuum based pump.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the MCE seeded portion is located near the aspiration pump.

13 . A catheter, comprising:

a hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube comprises a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion, wherein the catheter is configured to exhibit increased rigidity in response to exposure to a magnetic field.

14 . A catheter system, comprising:

a hollow tube having a lumen and distal end, wherein the hollow tube is configured an dimensioned to receive a guidewire within the lumen;

a balloon having a proximal end and distal end, wherein the proximal end of the balloon is configured and dimensioned to couple with distal end of the hollow tube; and

a tip have a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the tip is configured and dimensioned to couple with the distal end of the balloon, wherein the tip comprises a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion, and wherein the tip is configured to exhibit increased rigidity in response to exposure to a magnetic field.

15 . A method for modifying the flexibility of a catheter, comprising:

providing a catheter comprising a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion; and

exposing the magnetically controlled MCE seeded portion to a magnetic field source.