A catheter having a catheter body with a lumen and a distal lumen opening. The catheter's lumen extends through the catheter body along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. A hole is formed through a wall of a distal portion of the catheter body. A portion of the proximal surface of the hole is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The acute angle of the proximal hole surface opens proximally with respect to the catheter body.

A catheter and a method facilitate insertion into a blood vessel by providing a tubular wall section with a lumen having a longitudinally extending first volume and a second volume extending side-by-side and contiguous with the first volume. A sector of the tubular wall section is extended side-by-side and contiguous with the second volume of the lumen and is constructed of a material enabling the sector to be collapsed diametrically and nested within the first volume so that the section is provided with limited diametric dimensions. Upon insertion of the section into the blood vessel, the sector is expanded to extend diametrically outside the first volume, thereby rendering the section configured with expanded diametric dimensions and the lumen with a total cross-sectional area for accommodating a desired relatively high volumetric flow rate of fluid through the catheter.

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body configured for navigation through vasculature of a patient, the elongated body having an inner wall that defines a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion. The elongated body is configured to pass a fluid through the lumen and out a distal end of the elongated body. At the distal portion, the inner wall defines a convergent-divergent region such that a diameter of the lumen while moving distally within the elongated body converges from a first lumen diameter to a second lumen diameter and then diverges from the second lumen diameter to a third lumen diameter. The convergent-divergent region is configured to cause a fluid flowing through the lumen to cavitate as the fluid flows through the convergent-divergent region.

The present embodiments provide systems and methods suitable for delivering an agent including a plurality of particles to a target site. In example embodiments, a system suitable for delivering an agent to a target site includes a catheter having a first wall defining a lumen sized for delivery of the agent to the target site. The catheter has a distal end terminating with a primary opening of the lumen, an opposing proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end. At least one secondary opening is formed at the distal end, wherein the secondary opening is configured to allow fluid to flow through the secondary opening to create a steady flow of fluid at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and prevent the plurality of particles from flowing through the secondary opening.

An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to improve dispersion of medicament with cerebral spinal fluid in a subarachnoid space of a patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system including an implantable medical pump and a catheter having a wall defining a lumen extending between a proximal end in fluid communication with the implantable pump and structure defining a medicament exit positionable within the subarachnoid space of the patient, the wall further defining at least one feature configured to generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid for the purpose of improving intrathecal drug dispersion.

A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes a proximal a distal portion, a catheter body, an impeller, and a flow modifying structure. The catheter body has a lumen that extends along a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal portions. The impeller is disposed at the distal portion. The impeller includes a blade with a trailing edge. The flow modifying structure is disposed downstream of the impeller. The flow modifying structure has a plurality of blades having a leading edge substantially parallel to and in close proximity to the trailing edge of the blade of the impeller and an expanse extending downstream from the leading edge. In some embodiments, the expanse has a first region with higher curvature and a second region with lower curvature. The first region is between the leading edge and the second region.

A smart obturator assembly includes a hub forming a central passage. The hub is configured to couple to a proximal end of a device that forms a lumen such that the central passage is in fluid communication with the lumen. A collar on the hub includes electronic circuitry in signal communication with remote reception circuitry. An obturator is movably positionable within the lumen. The obturator is movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal end and a sensor at the distal end. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental characteristic within a patient's blood stream, generate a signal representative of the environmental characteristic, and transmit the signal to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive the signal and transmit the signal to the remote reception circuitry.

A method for visualization and/or administration of medication of and into the sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess of a patient is provided. The method includes providing a sphenocath and inserting a guidewire into the nostril of a patient to a target area proximate the sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess of the patient. The sphenocath is advanced over the guidewire and a catheter hub of the sphenocath is rotated relative to a sheath hub to conform to an anatomy of the patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess, such that the distal end of the catheter tube is proximal to the target area. The sphenocath is then advanced relative to a sheath assembly so that the distal end of a sphenocath catheter tube extends from a sphenocath sheath tube distal end and bends along the guidewire. The guidewire is removed and contrast media, fluids, and/or medication is administered to the patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine ganglion disposed within the sphenopalatine recess of the patient.

A catheter assembly for use in accessing a vasculature of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter assembly includes a catheter body that includes a flattened oval outer surface and defines first and second lumens. The catheter body defines a distal tip region that includes a venous lateral opening that is in fluid communication with the first lumen and includes a distal-facing portion. The distal tip region further includes an arterial lateral opening that is in fluid communication with the second lumen, includes a distal-facing portion, and is substantially un-staggered with respect to the venous lateral opening. A distal end opening is in fluid communication with a power injectable third lumen. In another embodiment, the first and second lumens each generally include a reniform cross-sectional shape. In yet another embodiment, a dual-lumen catheter includes first and second lumens that each define a modified ellipse cross-sectional shape.

A luer connection device is disclosed having a housing including a side wall having an inside surface defining a lumen with a central axis, an proximal end, and a distal end including a male luer tip within the lumen having a central flow diverter extending outwardly from the central axis to direct a fluid to a circumferential dead space distal to the male luer tip. A luer connection device is also disclosed having a flow expansion channel disposed in the lumen tapering outward from the wall of tubular housing and partially extending along a longitudinal axis from the tip opening toward the base opening for increasing mixing and flow through a circumferential dead space in the fluid path distal to the male luer tip.