Catheter for guidewire support or exchange

摘要

A catheter and method of using same for support or exchange of a guidewire during a percutaneous procedure which has at least one lumen in an elongate shaft with a proximal port and a distal port in fluid communication via an inner lumen. The catheter has a longitudinal slit in the inner lumen beginning at the proximal end of the elongate shaft and extends distally. An elongate support member is secured to the elongate shaft to provide axial rigidity to the catheter. Optionally, a second inner lumen is disposed within the elongate shaft adjacent the aforementioned inner lumen which has an intermediate port disposed distally of the proximal end of the elongate shaft.