Catheter with articulable septum extension

A method of limiting undesirable recirculation in a catheter, comprising the steps of:

• providing a catheter having a tubular body defining a pair of side openings, an arterial lumen, and a venous lumen, the arterial lumen and the venous lumen being separated by a septum, the septum including an articulable septum extension;
• and
• articulating the septum extension relative to the septum to restrict fluid flow into the distal opening of the arterial lumen.

A catheter comprising:

• an elongated tubular body including a first wall and second wall defining first and second lumens, respectively, each wall extending to a distal end and defining a distal opening, the first and second lumens being separated by a septum, the septum including a septum extension extending distally from the septum, the septum extension being adapted to articulate relative to the septum in response to fluid flow into and out of the distal openings of the first and second lumens, wherein the septum extension is dimensioned to partially obstruct fluid flow into the catheter through one of the distal openings upon the articulation of the septum extension.