Patent ID: 8043465

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a catheter, comprising: providing a distally closed tube, said tube having a substantially consistent cross-sectional size between a proximal end and a distal end; creating a plurality of exit holes along a distal portion of said tube, said plurality of exit holes defining an infusion section of said catheter, said plurality of exit holes being spaced in a substantially uniform configuration along a length of said infusion section wherein the holes are axially displaced with respect to one another such that no two holes are positioned across from one another with respect to their placement on the tube; positioning an elongated, tubular member within an interior space of said tube, said tubular member being sized so that said tubular member extends the entire length of said infusion section, said tubular member being formed of a porous material and defining a radially innermost surface of a lumen of said catheter within said infusion section such that a fluid introduced into a proximal end of said tube will flow to said infusion section and first contact said tubular member, saturate said tubular member and then exit said tubular member prior to being dispensed from said catheter by flowing through said exit holes; and configuring said tube and said tubular member so that said tube tightly surrounds and maintains contact with said tubular member along at least the length of said infusion section.