Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed herein is a double lumen catheter assembly having an expandable or inflatable balloon element which can be fully stretched longitudinally while preventing stretching of the catheter outer and inner tubes. The balloon element is fixedly attached at its respective ends to the open distal ends of the outer and inner tubes. An elongated flexible pusher member is adapted to be inserted into the inner catheter tube when the stretching of the balloon element is required. The pusher member has a hardness greater than the catheter tubes. When inserted into the inner catheter tube and moved relative to the outer catheter tube, the pusher member comes into abutting enagement with a rigid stop member provided in the distal end of the inner catheter tube. Continued forward movement of the pusher member relative to the outer catheter tube causes the balloon element to be stretched longitudinally into a geometric shape that provides for easy insertion into a blood vessel.

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First Claim