The present invention is a percutaneous catheter assembly intended for long-term
blood flow of several days, said assembly comprising generally three components:
a catheter housing having three sections, each of preferably differing diameter,
with a set of perforations in a distal section, an end cap for closing off a proximal
end of the catheter housing during insertion, and a dilator having an outer diameter
substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the smallest section of the
catheter housing, the dilator being configured to pass radiopaque contrast through
a first and second set of openings in the dilator and the perforations in the catheter
housing. The present invention further comprises a method of percutaneous blood
perfusion in which the catheter assembly is used without the need for an introducer sheath.
