Patent ID: 7229429

Claim:
A triple lumen vascular access catheter for percutaneous entry into a blood vessel of the cardiovascular system of a patient by way of advancement along an insertion guide wire, the triple lumen vascular access catheter comprising: an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end; an inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end and defining therewithin a first lumen, the inner tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the outer tube, the inner tube being disposed within the outer tube to define an interior space between the outer diameter of the inner tube and an inner diameter of the outer tube, wherein an inner diameter of the inner tube is sized for accommodating an insertion guide wire having an outer diameter from about 0.036 inches to about 0.038 inches; a first septum extending from the outer diameter of the inner tube to the inner diameter of the outer tube; a second septum extending from the outer diameter of the inner tube to the inner diameter of the outer tube, wherein the first septum and the second septum divide the interior space into a second lumen located on one side of a transverse cross section of the first septum, the inner tube, and the second septum, and a third lumen located on an opposite side of the transverse cross section of the first septum, the inner tube, and the second septum; wherein the entire interior space defined by the outside diameter of the inner tube and the inner diameter of the outer tube is divided only by the first septum and the second septum; a tapered distal tip section at the distal end of the outer tube, wherein an outer surface of the distal tip section tapers radially inwardly from the distal end of the outer tube and terminates in a first aperture with which the first lumen communicates; a second aperture formed through the outer tube proximate the distal end thereof, communicating with the second lumen; and a third aperture formed through the outer tube proximate the distal end thereof, communicating with the third lumen.