Importance

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Abstract

A catheter for delivering both a probe and a balloon to a lumen in a subject. The probe is most preferably an ultrasonic imaging probe and the balloon a dilation balloon. The catheter comprises, at a proximal end, a triple lumen section that comprises a guidewire lumen, a probe lumen and a lumen for communicating with a balloon. As the lumens run toward the distal end of the catheter, a transition section is provided that merges the probe lumen and the guidewire lumen into a single lumen. The single lumen continues distally and is surrounded by the balloon. Distal of the balloon, the single lumen defines an imaging window section. The catheter terminates in a distal tip that is preferably tapered along both its inner and outer diameters; the tip comprises a distal lumen sized to accept a guidewire. In certain preferred embodiments, radio opaque markers are used to delineate the various sections of the catheter. Among its many advantages, the present invention readily permits back loading of a guidewire.

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First Claim