Importance

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Abstract

An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon catheter, and a method for use thereof, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen extending therethrough, an implement, such as a dilation balloon, connected to and located at the distal portion of the shaft and communicating with the lumen, a small profile core wire extending through at least the dilation balloon and having a distal portion that extends distally from the dilation balloon through a distal core wire opening located distally of the balloon, and further in which the core wire is movable relative to the elongate shaft to allow withdrawal of the elongate shaft and the balloon while leaving the core wire positioned intravascularly, and a tip member connected to the core wire in a region thereof distal of the location at which the core wire extends distally of the core wire opening, the tip member having a profile larger than the opening. Also, a manifold is provided adapted to both form a fluid seal around a guide wire received in a port and spatially fix the position of the guide wire in the manifold. Also, the manifold automatically closes a fluid port upon disconnection of a source of fluid from the fluid port.

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First Claim