Catheter having rotary valves

Claim 1

A dual lumen vascular access catheter comprising: a main body defining first and second lumens and extending longitudinally between proximal and distal ends, the first lumen terminating at the distal end and the second lumen being shorter than the first lumen and terminating at a point spaced from the distal end; connection structure having coupling means attaching the structure to the main body at the proximal end, first and second channels for attaching the catheter to dialysis equipment, the channels extending from the respective first and second lumens, first and second rotary valves positioned in the respective first and second channels and operable for selectively opening and closing the channels as required during and between dialysis treatments and; each of the rotary valves including an operator moveable angularly about an axis to open and close the valves, the operators being moveable generally in the same plane with the axes generally parallel, whereby in use, the catheter can be arranged with the operators exposed for ready visual identification of the positions of the operators and thereby the positions of the rotary valves.