Catheter with open faced end portion

Abstract

A vascular access catheter that has a substantially distal end portion that has a distal tip. The distal end portion has a sloped face in the distal portion of the catheter, an outflow lumen aperture, and a second inflow lumen aperture. The outflow lumen aperture is substantially completely open in the sloped face and exits the distal portion adjacent the distal tip. The catheter has a guidewire lumen that is located at least in the region of the distal portion of the catheter and is capable of receiving a guidewire. The guidewire lumen has a proximal aperture and a distal aperture that extends distally of the outflow lumen aperture. The guidewire distal aperture exits at the distal most edge of the distal end portion. The guidewire lumen may extend a partial length of the catheter or substantially the entire length of the catheter. The catheter distal portion may be substantially straight or curved.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A method of inserting a vascular access catheter into a vessel, wherein the method comprises:
 a. providing a vascular access catheter, wherein the catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion has a distal end portion, and wherein the distal end portion has a distal tip and is substantially sloped with a sloped face; and at least two lumens, wherein each lumen has at least one aperture that communicates between the lumen and the exterior of the lumen: and a first lumen aperture, wherein the first lumen aperture exits the distal portion adjacent the distal tip, and wherein the first lumen aperture is substantially completely open in the sloped face; and a third lumen located at least in the region of the distal portion, wherein the third lumen is capable of receiving a guidewire, and wherein the third lumen has a proximal aperture and a distal aperture, and wherein the distal aperture of the third lumen exits the distal portion distally of the first lumen aperture; and   b. inserting the guidewire into a vessel in a patient body; and   c. inserting a guidewire into the distal aperture of the third lumen; and   d. advancing the guidewire through the third lumen and into the first lumen; and   e. inserting the catheter into a vessel in a patient body over the guidewire; and   f. positioning the distal portion of the catheter at a desired location; and   g. removing the guidewire from the third lumen.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising providing a catheter, wherein the third lumen exits at the distal most edge of the sloped distal end portion. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising providing a catheter, wherein the third lumen extends a partial length of the catheter. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising providing a catheter, wherein the catheter comprises a substantially curved distal portion. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising straightening the curved distal portion of the catheter upon insertion of the guidewire into the third lumen. 
   
   
       33 . The catheter of  claim 28 , wherein the distal portion is substantially bent in its unstressed state. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising straightening the bent distal portion of the catheter upon insertion of the guidewire into the third lumen. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising providing a catheter, wherein the catheter is a hemodialysis catheter.