Patent ID: 6701180
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A catheter comprising:an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; and at least one flow resistor in a distal portion the passageway between said slits and said distal opening to resist axial flow of the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said distal opening without restricting a passage of a removable guidewire through said distal portion, and to facilitate radial flow of the fluid through the open slits.