Inventory sparing catheter system

A catheter system comprising:

• a catheter body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending axially through at least a portion of the catheter body, the first lumen being configured to receive a guidewire;
• a first opening extending laterally through the catheter body, the first opening being in communication with the first lumen and being positioned closer to the proximal end of the catheter body than the distal end of the catheter body, and wherein the first opening is configured to remain outside a body of a patient during a procedure;
• a distal portion of the catheter body extending distally of the first opening and a proximal portion of the catheter body extending proximally of the first opening, the distal portion comprising sufficient flexibility to permit the distal portion to track over the guidewire in a blood vessel to a remote location;
• and
• a sheath supported by the catheter body, the sheath being slidable relative to the catheter body;
• wherein:
• the sheath is movable between at least a first position and a second position;
• in the first position, the first opening is substantially covered by the sheath such that the guidewire is prevented from advancing through the first opening when the sheath is in the first position;
• in the second position, the first opening is substantially uncovered;
• and
• when the sheath is in the second position, the catheter system is configured to direct the guidewire being advanced through the first lumen to pass through the first opening such that a working length of the catheter system is shorter than when the sheath is in the first position;
• wherein the proximal and distal portions are non-overlapping when the sheath is in the first position and when the sheath is in the second position;
• wherein the catheter body defines an inflection point adjacent to the first opening, the inflection point being an approximate location wherein the catheter body defines a bend having an angle of curvature defined between the distal portion and a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion;
• wherein the angle of curvature is greater in a first configuration than in a second configuration, the bend of the catheter body in the first configuration comprising a first inwardly bent portion and a second outwardly bent portion that is circumferentially opposite the first inwardly bent portion, the first inwardly bent portion defining a first interior angle between the proximal catheter body portion and the distal catheter body portion, the second outwardly bent portion defining a second exterior angle between the proximal catheter body portion and the distal catheter body portion, the second exterior angle greater than the first interior angle in the first configuration, the first opening positioned along the second outwardly bent portion such that the catheter body is bent away from the first opening in the first configuration, the first opening positioned relative to the inflection point such that, in the first configuration, the guidewire can pass through the first lumen from the distal portion of the catheter body within the body of the patient, out of the first lumen through the first opening and in a proximal direction outside the body of the patient;
• and
• wherein the catheter body is biased so as to be relaxed in the first configuration.