Catheter for media injection

Claim 2

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinallly extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; a valve at the distal opening of the tubular member; and further including a valve means for at least partially closing said passageway at the distal end of said tube, said valve means comprising a plurality of resilient flaps which flex when acted on by the force of fluid pressure originating within said passageway.

Claim 3

The catheter of claim 1 which is insertable over and includes a guidewire within said passageway.

Claim 4

The catheter of claim 2 wherein the valve normally seals said distal opening closed, said valve sealing around said guidewire during the passage of said guidewire through said tube and valve.

Claim 5

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said flexible intermediate portions are normally positioned to form said wings.

Claim 6

The catheter of claim 1 further including an external, removable cannula dimensioned to fit over and collapse said tube to its maximum length and minimum width and to compress said wings until they return to a retracted position with said slits in a closed position.

Claim 7

The catheter of claim 1 including means for expanding said intermediate portions away from said tube to provide lateral openings for the discharge of fluid from the passageway.

Claim 8

The catheter of claim 1 further including at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow thereby.

Claim 9

The catheter of claim 7 wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway.

Claim 10

The catheter of claim 8 wherein said at least one protuberance comprises a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 11

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; a valve at the distal opening of the tubular member; further including at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow thereby; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said at least one protuberance comprises a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 12

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; a valve at the distal opening of the tubular member; further including at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow thereby; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said at least one protuberance comprises a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 13

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member having a thin wall defining a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said thin wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said thin wall, adjacent said slits; said flexible intermediate portions normally forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube with open slits therebetween to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway through said open slits in said thin wall near said distal end; an external, removable cannula dimensioned to fit over and collapse said tube to its maximum length and minimum width and to compress said wings until they to a position with said slits in a closed position; further including at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow thereby; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said at least one protuberance comprises a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 14

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member having a thin wall defining a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said thin wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said thin wall, adjacent said slits; said flexible intermediate portions normally forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube with open slits therebetween to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway through said open slits in said thin wall near said distal end; an external, removable cannula dimensioned to fit over and collapse said tube to its maximum length and minimum width and to compress said wings until they to a position with said slits in a closed position; further including at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow thereby; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said at least one protuberance comprises a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 15

The catheter of claim 11 which is insertable over and includes a guidewire in said passageway.

Claim 16

The catheter of claim 12 including a valve normally sealingly closing said distal end of said passageway, said valve adapted to seal against passage of fluid from said passageway through said distal opening during passage of said guidewire through said tube and valve.

Claim 17

The catheter of claim 11 including a valve means for at least partially closing said distal opening, said valve means comprised of a plurality of resilient flaps which will flex when exposed to the force of fluid pressure originating within said passageway.

Claim 18

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow through the passageway, the at least one restrictor located near the distal opening of the tubular member; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said restrictors comprise a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.

Claim 19

A catheter comprising; an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; said tubular member including a passageway extending throughout the length of the tube and forming a wall with proximal and distal openings; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending slits through said wall adjacent the distal end defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally extending flexible intermediate portions of said wall, said flexible intermediate portions capable of forming a plurality of wings extending from said tube to provide for the discharge of fluid from the passageway out through said wall through the open slits defined between said wings; at least one restrictor within said passageway for resisting axial flow through the passageway, the at least one restrictor located near the distal opening of the tubular member; wherein said at least one restrictor comprises at least one protuberance on said wall within said passageway; and wherein said restrictors comprise a plurality of spaced, annular ribs.