Importance

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Abstract

An introducing needle having two lumens is disclosed. The lumens originate at the sharpened end of the needle in a parallel relationship. The first lumen is rectilinear along the entire longitudinal length of the needle and is adapted to engage a syringe barrel at the needle's hub end. The second lumen is rectilinear along the substantial longitudinal length of the needle and diverges from the first lumen at the needle's hub end. In operation, after a blood vessel is punctured by the sharpened end of the needle, a 'flash' of blood is drawn through the first lumen and a guidewire is thereafter inserted through the diverging second lumen without disengaging the syringe barrel from the first lumen. In this manner, manipulation of the needle during insertion of the guidewire is substantially reduced, thereby reducing patient discomfort, trauma to the vein, and the possibility of movement of the needle from the initial puncture location. A method of inserting a guidewire into a blood vessel using an apparatus of the invention is also disclosed. A method using an apparatus of the invention to insert two guidewires into a blood vessel through the same puncture location is further disclosed.

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First Claim