Patent ID: 7972311

Claim:
A cardioplegia catheter system for delivery of a cardioplegia solution, comprising: a cardioplegia catheter comprising: an elongate tubular catheter body that defines a continuous central lumen, the central lumen extending from a proximal end to a spaced distal end; a flange that is connected to and extends therefrom an exterior surface of the catheter body intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the catheter body, the flange having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, the top surface being closer than the bottom surface to the proximal end, wherein the flange defines at least one suture opening that extends therethrough the flange from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof; and at least one suture lumen being an elongate tube and extending from a first end proximate to the flange to a spaced second end, the at least one suture lumen extending parallel to the catheter body, the at least one suture lumen being disposed above the top surface of the flange, the first end of the at least one suture lumen being in an overlying registration with the at least one suture opening; and at least one suture capture stylet comprising a rod having a distal portion that is constructed and arranged to extend through the at least one suture opening in the flange of the catheter body and the at least one suture lumen, wherein the distal portion of the rod has a shape that is constructed and arranged for slideably grasping a portion of at least one stay suture.