Catheter having imperforate protective barrier and method for making and using the same

摘要

A catheter has a distal end which is to be positioned through potentially contaminated tissue within a patient to a desired site, and a proximal end. The catheter has at least one fluid lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end. The fluid lumen provides fluid communication between the desired site and the proximal end. A removable protective barrier is positioned within the fluid lumen at its distal end. The protective barrier is made from a biocompatible material and selectively occludes the distal end of the fluid lumen so that entry of the contaminated tissue, prior to the distal end of the catheter reaching the desired site, is prevented.