Rapid exchange catheter with stent deployment, therapeutic infusion, and lesion sampling features

A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter including:
• a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, and defining a length between the first end and the second end;
• at least one channel extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the channel passing between a first opening and a second opening and having a slot in the tubular body between the channel and the exterior surface of the tubular body, wherein the slot extends from the first opening to the second opening and includes a pair of edges;
• and
• a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body;
• inserting a guide wire into the channel;
• advancing the catheter along the guide wire;
• and
• removing the guide wire from the channel, wherein removing the guide wire comprises passing the guide wire from the channel to the exterior surface of the tubular body through the slot in the tubular body.

A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

• providing a guide wire including:
• a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body;
• and
• at least one tube having an exterior surface and extending along the exterior surface of tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the tube including a first opening, a second opening, and a passage way passing between the first opening and the second opening;
• inserting a guide wire into passage way in the tube through either of the first opening and the second opening in the tube;
• advancing the catheter along the guide wire through the tube;
• and
• removing the guide wire from the passage way, wherein removing the guide wire comprises withdrawing the guide wire from the passage way through either of the first opening and the second opening in the tube.

A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

• providing a guide wire including:
• a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body;
• and
• at least one coiled member extending from the second end of the tubular body and including one or more extension members and one or more loop members configured to receive a guide wire and defining an inner diameter of each loop, the loop members connected to the extension members and defining a first opening and a second opening;
• inserting a guide wire into the loop member through either of the first opening or the second opening;
• advancing the catheter along the guide wire through the loop member;
• and
• removing the guide wire from the loop member, wherein removing the guide wire comprises withdrawing the guide wire from the loop member through either of the first opening or the second opening.