Patent ID: 8298178
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A rapid exchange catheter comprising: a guide wire lumen; and first and second slits separated from one another longitudinally along a portion of the catheter forming a depressible portion of a wall of the catheter therebetween, the depressible portion being movable between a depressed configuration in which an inner surface of the depressible portion is moved a predetermined distance radially inward toward an inner surface of an opposite side of the guide wire lumen to form a guide wire receiving channel and a non-depressed configuration, the predetermined distance being selected so that, when a guide wire is received in the guide wire receiving channel, a combined diameter of the guide wire and the catheter is no greater than a diameter of the catheter in the non-depressed configuration; wherein the depressible portion has a continuous wall surface having a substantially uniform wall thickness when in the non-depressed configuration.