Patent ID: 6293958
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An intravascular catheter, comprising:(a) an elongated, flexible tubular body member of a predetermined diameter and wall thickness, the tubular body member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; and(b) a plurality of circumferentially spaced cuts formed through the wall thickness of the tubular body member to said lumen to define a plurality of vibratable flaps sufficiently deformable such that a flow of a stream of fluid through the lumen above a predetermined velocity causes the vibratable flaps to oscillate into the lumen and out of the lumen, the vibratable flaps extending outwardly beyond the predetermined diameter of the flexible tubular body member when oscillating out of the lumen, the oscillation of the vibratable flaps diffusing the stream and dissipating kinetic energy of the stream, and the vibratable flaps having a hinged portion.