Swan-ganz catheter with a hydrophilic, distal end

摘要

A flow directed catheter (2) includes a hollow catheter body (4) having a distal section (16) constructed of a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic distal section, typically a hydrogel, has an equilibrium water content of about 80 % water by mass when hydrated. The hydrophilic distal section is soft and supple but substantially inelastic and tough enough to permit use of guide wires to help direct the catheter through difficult areas (27) and also allow a wide range of therapeutic agents to be delivered to the target site (32, 34, 36). Both the inside and outside surfaces of the catheter body can be made lubricious by surface modification or by application of a secondary, lubricious coating.