| 摘要 |
Methods, apparatus and systems wherein the distal portion of an elongate apparatus (e.g., a catheter or cannula) having a sealed lumen (e.g., a blind lumen) formed therein is insertable into the body of a mammalian patient and a tubular sterility barrier is attached to or formed on the proximal portion of the elongate apparatus. The tubular sterility barrier is arranged so that it extends outside of a sterile field that is being maintained around the proximal portion of the elongate device. A non-sterile working apparatus (e.g., an intravascular ultrasound device or other imaging apparatus, etc.) may then be inserted through the sterility barrier and into the sealed lumen without causing contamination of the sterile field or the patient.
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