摘要:
A guidewire receiving lumen flushing device for use with a "monorail" or "rapid exchange" balloon catheter including a distal portion having a guidewire receiving lumen, an outer lumen and a balloon. The guidewire receiving lumen of the catheter has a first opening at a distal end of the catheter and a second opening located proximally of the first opening. The outer lumen of the catheter is generally parallel with the guidewire receiving lumen of the catheter and the balloon communicates with the outer lumen of the catheter for inflating the balloon. The guidewire receiving lumen flushing device comprises a flushing luer and a forming tube integrally formed with the flushing luer. The integrally formed flushing luer and forming tube have a passageway therethrough and the passageway has a first portion in the flushing luer and a second, smaller portion in the forming tube. The forming tube is adapted to receive a distal portion of the catheter within the second portion of the passageway and form a seal between the forming tube and the distal portion of the catheter including the balloon, whereby, when the forming tube has received the distal portion of the catheter and formed the seal, fluid that is forced into the passageway is forced through the passageway and flushes the guidewire receiving lumen of the catheter.