Multiple lumen catheter

An elongate catheter, said catheter having distal and proximal ends, and said catheter comprising:

• (a) a flexible elongate catheter body extending about a longitudinal axis;
• (b) a tapered tip at said distal end of said catheter,
• (c) said catheter body defining first and second side lumens and a third lumen;
• (d) said first and second side lumens and said third lumen extending from said proximal end of said catheter to first, second, and third apertures, respectfully;
• (i) said first and second side lumens having similar shapes in cross section and terminating at said first and second side apertures, respectively;
• and
• (ii) said third lumen extending centrally along said longitudinal axis of said catheter body between said first and second lumens along the length of said catheter body and ending at said third aperture at said distal end of said catheter, said third lumen being smaller in cross-sectional area than either of said first and second side lumens, and said third lumen being proportioned to slidably receive a guide wire during insertion of said catheter into the body of a patient.

A catheter comprising:

• (a) a smooth elongate flexible cylindrical body having:
• (i) proximal and distal ends
• (ii) an outer wall, and
• (iii) a septum extending between diametrically spaced points on said outer wall, thereby to define interior of said cylindrical body similar first and second fluid flow lumens, and
• (b) said septum further defining centrally within said septum a circular fluid flow lumen disposed about the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body and being substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than individual of said first and second fluid flow lumens;
• (c) a tip at said distal end of said cylindrical body, the outer surface of said tip blending smoothly into the outer surface of said cylindrical body, in a direction from said cylindrical body toward the distal terminus of the catheter said outer surface of said tip converging radially inwardly toward said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body and defining at said distal terminus of the catheter an aperture at the end of said circular fluid flow lumen;
• (d) access means attached to said proximal end of said cylindrical body for providing access thereat to said first and second fluid flow lumens and to said circular fluid flow lumen;
• and
• (e) one of said cylindrical body and said tip defining the following:
• (i) a first side aperture adjacent said distal terminus of the catheter communicating through said outer wall with said first fluid flow lumen, and
• (ii) a second side aperture spaced towards said proximal end of said cylindrical body from said first aperture and communicating through said outer wall with said second fluid flow lumen.

A triple lumen catheter comprising:

• (a) An elongate catheter body extending about a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end;
• (b) a tapered tip at said distal end of said catheter body;
• (c) said catheter body having an outer wall and an internal septum, said septum in combination with said outer wall defining C-shaped first and second lumens longitudinally extending within said catheter body;
• (d) said outer wall of said body defining first and second apertures, said first aperture being spaced longitudinally from said tapered tip and from said second aperture, and said second aperture being located between said first aperture and said tapered tip;
• (e) said first lumen terminating at said first aperture, and said second lumen terminating at said second aperture;
• (f) said septum defining a circular third lumen smaller than said first lumen and smaller than said second lumen, said third lumen terminating at the distal terminus of said tapered tip;
• (g) the outer surfaces of said catheter body and said tapered tip combining to present a smooth transition from the cross section of said catheter body to a smaller cross section at said distal terminus of said tapered tip.

A catheter comprising:

• a cylindrical elongate body extending from a proximal to a distal end, the body defining two similar longitudinally extending lumens separated by a septum and a further lumen defined within the septum;
• a tip extending from the distal end of the body defining a part of said further lumen;
• a connector at said proximal end;
• tubes coupled to the connector and in fluid communication through the connector one with each of the respective lumens;
• the body defining openings providing access one to each of the longitudinally extending lumens, said openings being spaced from one another longitudinally of the body and said further lumen extending longitudinally beyond said longitudinally extending lumens and through the tip;
• the further lumen terminating at an opening at the distal end of the tip and the tip being convergently tapered as it extends longitudinally from said body;
• and
• the longitudinally extending lumens being blocked immediately adjacent and distally of said openings.