Pigtail catheter with angled apertures

Claim 2

An x-ray contrast media catheter having a longitudinal axis, a tube wall, and a distal end, which catheter comprises a flexible tube defining a lumen, and a plurality of side apertures in the tube for fluid flow therethrough, said side apertures being each defined by a tubular surface extending through the tube wall from the lumen to the exterior, at least some of which tubular surfaces define a second longitudinal axis that forms a forward angle of about 30° to 60° to the longitudinal axis of the catheter adjacent said tubular surfaces, said distal end being in the form of a pigtail having an overall diameter of about 10mm to 14mm, said side apertures being proximal to said pigtail, said distal end defining an open aperture, whereby improved flow characteristics of x-ray contrast media are achieved for better x-ray visualization of internal organs.

Claim 3

An x-ray contrast media catheter for use in x-ray imaging of the heart, having a longitudinal axis, a tube wall, and a distal end in the form of a pigtail, which catheter comprises a flexible tube defining a lumen and a plurality of side apertures in the tube proximal to said pigtail for fluid flow through said apertures, said side apertures being each defined by a tubular surface extending through the tube wall from the lumen to the exterior, at least some of which tubular surfaces defining a second longitudinal axis that forms a forward angle of about 30° to 60° to the longitudinal axis of the catheter adjacent said tubular surfaces, the distal end of said catheter defining an aperture through a bevelled tip, whereby one lateral portion of a stream of liquid expelled therethrough exhibits more lateral flow divergence than an opposed lateral portion of said stream of liquid, and whereby improved flow characteristics of x-ray contrast media are achieved for better x-ray visualization of a heart ventricle and adjacent blood vessels.

Claim 4

An x-ray contrast media catheter for use in x-ray imaging of the heart, having a longitudinal axis, a tube wall, and a distal end in the form of a pigtail, which catheter comprises a flexible tube defining a lumen and a plurality of side apertures in the tube proximal to said pigtail for fluid flow through said apertures, said side apertures being each defined by a tubular surface extending through the tube wall from the lumen to the exterior, at least some of which tubular surfaces defining a second longitudinal axis that forms a forward angle of about 30° to 60° to the longitudinal axis of the catheter adjacent said tubular surfaces, the distal end of said catheter defining an aperture through a bevelled tip, whereby one lateral portion of a stream of liquid expelled therethrough exhibits more lateral flow divergence than an opposed lateral portion of said stream of liquid, and whereby improved flow characteristics of x-ray contrast media are achieved for better x-ray visualization of a heart ventricle and adjacent blood vessels.

Claim 5

The catheter of claim 2 in which said forward angle of the side apertures is about 40° to 50°.

Claim 6

The catheter of claim 2 in which said pigtail defines an overall diameter of about 10 to 14 mm..

Claim 7

The catheter of claim 2 in which at least a distal end portion thereof is coated with a pharmaceutically acceptable friction-reducing agent.

Claim 8

The catheter of claim 4 which is a ventricular x-ray imaging catheter.