Patent ID: 7452353

Claim:
A catheter for delivering a fluid to an anatomical region, comprising: an elongated, proximal tube defining a lumen; an elongated, distal tube constructed from a bio-absorbable material, said distal tube defining a lumen communicating with said lumen of said proximal tube, at least a portion of a side wall of said distal tube permitting communication of said fluid from within said lumen to external of said distal tube thereby defining an infusion section of said catheter extending along a length of said side wall of said distal tube between said proximal tube and a closed distal end of said distal tube; wherein a proximal end portion of said distal tube and a distal end portion of said proximal tube overlap to define an overlapping portion of said catheter having a wall thickness substantially equal to the combined wall thicknesses of the proximal tube and the distal tube portions adjacent said overlapping portion, thereby creating a reinforced section of said catheter, said proximal end portion of said distal tube being bonded to said distal end portion of said proximal tube with a bio-compatible adhesive to create a substantially fluid-tight joint therebetween, a length of said overlapping portion of said proximal tube and said distal tube being at least about 0.02 inches; wherein said distal tube is configured to remain structurally intact for a useful life of said catheter and said distal tube is configured to dissolve after the end of said useful life such that said proximal tube can be removed from said distal tube and said tube is left to dissolve in said anatomical region, wherein said useful life is the period of time in which said catheter can pass fluid from said lumen of said proximal tube to said lumen of said distal tube, through said infusion section of said distal tube, and into said anatomical region.