Systems and methods for flushing catheters

Abstract

Various improvements are made to catheters adapted to be flushed to remove air from within the catheter. For example, improved catheters include a catheter with a self-sealing seal at its distal end to pass a venting tube for removing air from within the catheter, a catheter having a distal end whose diameter is reduced to compress a seal adapted to pass a venting tube; a catheter having a cap at its distal end where the cap has a venting hole that is opened or closed depending on the conditions subjected to the shape-memory material of the cap; a catheter having a vent hole at its distal end; a catheter having an opening at its distal end that can be closed by a plug; and a catheter having a narrow neck with an opening to vent air and the neck is coupled to a tab where twisting the tab closes the opening in the neck.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.