Patent ID: 8277381

Claim:
An intravascular catheter, comprising: a catheter sheath having a main portion, a distal portion, and a tapered portion located between the main portion and the distal portion, wherein the tapered portion has a length in a range of 10 to 20 centimeters and has a wall thickness that gradually decreases in a direction toward the distal end of the catheter sheath, the catheter sheath comprising a lumen configured and arranged for receiving an imaging core, the lumen extending to the distal portion of the catheter sheath; a guidewire receiver attached to the distal portion of the catheter sheath, the guidewire receiver comprising a lumen for receiving the guidewire and an opening for insertion of a guidewire into the guidewire receiver from an exterior of the intravascular catheter; wherein the guidewire receiver has an angled proximal portion attached to the distal portion of the catheter sheath, wherein the angled proximal portion of the guidewire receiver forms a non-zero angle with respect to an adjacent portion of the guidewire receiver; and a telescoping assembly attached to a proximal portion of the catheter sheath.