Patent ID: 7591832

Claim:
An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising: a flexible stiffening member comprising an infusion lumen and a port, the flexible stiffening member extending longitudinally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof, the distal end having a size and shape for insertion into the body lumen; an expandable sheath being fixedly attached to the flexible stiffening member and extending longitudinally along a length of the stiffening member, from the proximal end of the stiffening member to a location proximal to the distal end of the stiffening member, the expandable sheath being expandable from a contracted condition, at which contracted condition a profile of the apparatus is minimized, to an enlarged condition, at which enlarged condition the expandable sheath defines a lumen of the apparatus, the lumen extending longitudinally alongside the stiffening member, and over the length of the stiffening member to a distal opening of the lumen, the distal opening terminating a distal end of the expandable sheath, the lumen allowing an instrument to be advanced therethrough and out from the distal opening of the lumen, into the body lumen; and a distal protection element comprising an expandable occlusion member, the occlusion member being carried on the distal end of the stiffening member, at a location distal to the distal end of the expandable sheath; wherein the infusion lumen of the flexible stiffening member extends from the proximal end of the stiffening member to the port, the port being located distal to the occlusion member.