Patent ID: 8740874

Claim:
A method for flushing a catheter, the method comprising: providing a catheter, the catheter comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first chamber extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to a first chamber opening at the distal end; a second chamber extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to a second chamber opening at the distal end; a valve structure at the distal end of the elongate body that is configured to move relative to the elongate body between a closed position in which the first and second chamber openings are covered by the valve structure and an open position in which the first and second chamber openings are uncovered by the valve structure; and a channel located between the proximal and the distal ends of the elongate body that extends between the first chamber and the second chamber and provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber when the valve structure is in the closed position; positioning the valve structure to close off the distal end of the first chamber lumen and the e distal end of the e second chamber lumen of the catheter; while the distal ends are closed off by the valve structure, introducing a flushing fluid into the proximal end of the first chamber lumen; passing the flushing fluid through the channel that extends between connecting the first chamber and lumen to the second chamber lumen; and withdrawing the flushing fluid from the proximal end of the second chamber lumen, wherein the catheter further comprises a dividing wall within the elongate body separating the first and second chambers, the dividing wall extending from the proximal end of the elongate body to the first and second chamber openings, wherein the channel extends through the dividing wall.