Importance

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Abstract

A support catheter assembly for facilitating medical procedures includes a tubular body and a continuous lumen from its proximal end to its distal end. A manipulating member is connected to the tubular body for inserting, advancing, withdrawing and maneuvering the body during a medical procedure. The manipulating member may be a wire or a manipulating tube. The tubular body also may be provided with a funnel shaped lumen opening at its proximal end to facilitate insertion of devices therethrough, and radiopaque markers for subcutaneously detecting the location of the device during a medical procedure and, more particularly, for detecting its location relative to other devices used in the medical procedure. A method also is disclosed for using the tube assembly to facilitate insertion of a PTCA catheter into a stenotic region and for holding open the lumen through that region after angioplasty has been performed.

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First Claim