Patent ID: 8574218
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An infusion catheter comprising: an elongate catheter body defining a longitudinal center axis extending between a proximal catheter end and a distal catheter end, and including an inner surface extending circumferentially around the longitudinal center axis and defining an axially extending fluid lumen centered thereon opening at the proximal catheter end, and an outer surface; the catheter body further being formed of a material and single-walled, such that an uninterrupted thickness of the material forms the inner and outer surfaces and extends radially between the inner and outer surfaces throughout the catheter body; the outer surface having a non-uniform contour relative to the longitudinal center axis, and a plurality of maximum surface elevation points upon a plurality of longitudinally extending lobes, and a plurality of minimum surface elevation points within a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves; the outer surface further including a plurality of porous surface areas including a plurality of effluent ports within the plurality of longitudinally extending grooves and being in fluid communication with the fluid lumen, for transferring a fluid from the fluid lumen into the plurality of longitudinally extending grooves for infusion into an intraluminal space in a patient; the outer surface further including a plurality of nonporous surface areas located upon the plurality of longitudinally extending lobes, for inhibiting external occlusion during the infusion of the fluid; and the plurality of longitudinally extending grooves each tapering from a narrower width at a radially inward location to a greater width at a radially outward location where the fluid exits the groove for infusion, such that the elongate catheter body forms a star shape in axial cross section.