Crocker, Michael;

Low profile infusion catheter

Disclosed is a low profile infusion catheter for medical use. The catheter comprises a proximal infusion lumen, which, in one embodiment, branches into two or more distal infusion lumen. Each of the distal fluid lumen is provided with at least one effluent flow port for infusion into the patient. Construction of the catheter provides a series of discrete flexibility zones.

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I claim:

1. An infusion catheter, comprising:

an elongate tubular body extending from a proximal end to a distal end in a distal direction;

at least one proximal, fluid lumen extending through a proximal zone of said tubular body;

a branch point in said proximal, fluid lumen at which said proximal, fluid lumen divides into at least a first and a second distal fluid lumen;

at least a first effluent zone on the tubular body in fluid communication with the first distal fluid lumen; and

at least a second effluent zone on the tubular body in fluid communication with the second distal fluid lumen;

said second distal fluid lumen having a distal portion extending farther in said distal direction than said first distal fluid lumen, said distal portion containing at least a portion of said second effluent zone.

2. An infusion catheter as in claim 1, comprising two or more effluent ports on each of said first and second effluent zones.

3. An infusion catheter as in claim 1, comprising two distal, fluid lumens and two effluent ports on each of said distal fluid lumens.

4. An infusion catheter as in claim 1, further comprising a guidewire lumen extending axially through at least a portion of said infusion catheter.

5. An infusion catheter, comprising:

an elongate tubular body;

at least one proximal, fluid lumen extending through a proximal zone of said tubular body;

a branch point in said proximal, fluid lumen at which said proximal, fluid lumen divides into two or more distal, fluid lumens;

a first effluent zone including at least one port in fluid communication with a first, distal fluid lumen; and

a second effluent zone including at least one port in fluid communication with a second, distal, fluid lumen,

the most proximal port in the second distal lumen is displaced distally along the tubular body from the most distal port in the first distal lumen.

6. An infusion catheter as in claim 5, further comprising a guidewire lumen extending axially through at least a portion of said infusion catheter.

7. An infusion catheter as in claim 5, comprising two distal, parallel fluid lumens and two effluent ports on each distal, fluid lumen.

8. An infusion catheter, comprising:

an elongate tubular body;

at least one fluid lumen extending through a proximal portion of the tubular body;

a branch point in said fluid lumen at which said fluid lumen divides into at least a first and a second branch;

an intermediate portion of the tubular body extending distally from said branch point to a distal end of the first branch, and containing the first and second branches; and

a distal portion of the tubular body extending distally from the distal end of the first branch, and containing the second branch;

said intermediate portion containing a first effluent zone in the first lumen and said distal portion containing at least a portion of a second effluent zone.

9. An infusion catheter as in claim 8, wherein the cross sectional area through the intermediate portion of the tubular body is greater than the cross sectional area through the distal portion of the tubular body.

10. An infusion catheter as in claim 8, further comprising a guidewire lumen extending axially through at least a portion of said infusion catheter.