Abstract: A compact,intravenous, percutaneous respiratory assist catheter having a rotating fiber bundle functions as an intravenous oxygenerator configured to be implanted within the patient's vasculature. The respiratory assist catheter provides oxygen introduction and carbon dioxide removal from the blood of the patient. the catheter includes hollow, gas-permeable fibers extending between a distal manifoldand a proximal manifold that permit diffusion of gases between the blood vessel and the interior of the fibers. An implantable version of the catheter is configured with a fiber bundle having increased porosity and with a mechanism to prevent the fiber bundle from damaging the vena cava. The fiber bundle may be protected by a wire loom or coil cage made from materials such as nitinol and stainless steel. The rotation of the fiber bundle may be varied in speed and in direction.

Abstract: A telescoping dilator assembly is configured for percutaneous insertion of large diameter intravascular devices into a blood vessel while avoiding kinking of a guidewire and minimizing blood loss. The assembly includes a first smaller diameter dilator with an inner lumen that fits snugly over a guidewire. The smaller dilator may be tapered on both ends. A second larger diameter dilator is configured to slide over the first smaller dilator. A tear away sheath is configured to slide over the dilators and into a blood vessel. A tear away sheath plug is configured to form a seal at a proximal end of the sheath. When the dilators are removed from the blood vessel, an intravascular device may be passed through the sheath into the blood vessel.