Medical device flushing systems and methods

A method of flushing a catheter, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft member that includes a proximal end, a distal end, a length from the proximal end to the distal end, and at least a first lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the first lumen comprises a first end spaced proximally from a second end, the second end located at least proximate the distal end of the elongate shaft member, and wherein the distal end of the elongate shaft member is arranged to be deliverable ahead of the proximal end of the elongate shaft member through a bodily opening leading to a bodily cavity, the length of the elongate shaft member sufficient to position the proximal end outside a body comprising the bodily cavity during a state in which the distal end is positioned in the bodily cavity, the catheter comprising a manipulable portion physically coupled to a distal end portion of the elongate shaft member, and the method comprising:

• providing a vessel with the manipulable portion and at least part of the distal end portion of the elongate shaft member including the distal end of the elongate shaft member in an interior cavity of the vessel, the manipulable portion and the at least part of the distal end portion of the elongate shaft member including the distal end of the elongate shaft member protruding into the interior cavity of the vessel via a first port provided by the vessel, and the manipulable portion selectively moveable between an unexpanded configuration in which the manipulable portion is sized for delivery through the first port and an expanded configuration in which the manipulable portion is sized too large for delivery through the first port;
• providing a quantity of a liquid into at least a first portion of the interior cavity of the vessel, the second end of the first lumen in fluid communication with the liquid provided in the first portion of the interior cavity;
• establishing a flow of at least some of the liquid in the first portion of the interior cavity through the first lumen from the second end of the first lumen toward the first end of the first lumen to facilitate flushing of a fluid other than the liquid from the first lumen;
• repeatedly moving the manipulable portion, when the manipulable portion is in the expanded configuration in the first portion of the interior cavity to agitate the liquid in the first portion of the interior cavity and facilitate air bubble removal from the manipulable portion;
• and
• removing the manipulable portion, in the unexpanded configuration, and the at least part of the distal end portion of the elongate shaft member from the interior cavity of the vessel into a loading assembly for subsequent delivery through the bodily opening leading to the bodily cavity.