A MULTILUMEN CATHETER AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE CATHETER

摘要

A multilumen catheter assembly (5) includes a unitary catheter (12), a first end tube 14, a first end tube (14), a secon end tube (16), a hub (18), and a first and a second extension tube (20,22). The unitary catheter (12) includes an exterior having a generally round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes (14,16) of genrally circular cross sectional shape extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter assembly (5) may be made by extruding a unitary tube (12) having internal longitudinally extending lumens (24,26), then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes (14, 16). The tubes are then ground and polished, the finished tubes retaining in combination the generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other cross sectional shape, or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.