Importance

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Abstract

An introducing catheter for use in placing a large guidewire after a small guidewire is in position. The catheter has a tapered distal tip, decreased lumen size at the distal end, a side port and a ramp disposed within the tube at the distal end of the side port. The ramp is inclined distally toward the side port, the distal end of the ramp being fixed to the tube adjacent to the side port and the proximal end of the ramp being disposed adjacent the inner wall of the tube in the region opposite the side port in the manner that the small guidewire can move proximally past the ramp. The ramp deflects the distally moving larger wire so that it exists through the side port. In the embodiment shown, the ramp is formed integrally of low friction thermoplastic (PTFE) and the upper surface of the proximal end of the ramp has a convex, wire-deflecting contour as a result of thermoforming pressure.

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First Claim