| abstract |
Various improved catheter marking arrangements are described. In a first aspect of the invention, a first longitudinally extending radiopaque marker is positioned on the catheter. A second longitudinally extending radiopaque marker is positioned opposite the first marker at a rotational orientation that is approximately 180 degrees offset from the first marker. The second marker has a length that is sufficiently different from the first marker such that a surgeon utilizing the catheter in a surgical procedure would be able to readily differentiate the first and second markers in a fluoroscopic image based on their respective lengths in order to determine the rotational orientation of the catheter. n In some embodiments, the catheter includes a lumen that has a side port that opens to a side of the catheter. The first marker is composed of a pair of axially aligned marker segments located on opposite ends of the side port. The length of the first longitudinal extending marker defined as an end-to-end length of the pair of axially aligned marker segments is longer than the length of the second marker. The markers may be formed from any suitable materials that can be clearly detected by an imaging system. |