Patent ID: 8308674

Claim:
A method for providing enhanced patient mobility during apheresis treatments, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a substantially tubular and substantially flexible catheter, the substantially tubular and substantially flexible catheter having an opening at an end of a distal section of the substantially tubular and flexible catheter and at least one aperture longitudinally spaced away from the end of the distal section of the substantially tubular and flexible catheter, a removable substantially rigid core being disposed within the substantially tubular and substantially flexible catheter; a gauge of the substantially tubular and substantially flexible catheter being selected to enable smaller veins to be utilized to complete extracorporeal blood therapies; said at least one opening being configured to permit adequate blood flow withdrawal necessary to complete apheresis treatments; and removing the substantially rigid core; providing enhanced patient mobility during apheresis by leaving the substantially tubular and substantially flexible catheter in place.