A medical device for fluid delivery

A method for predetermining the controlled and uniform discharge rate of a fluid from a single lumen tubular body having passageways radially extending through the wall of the tubular body has been developed and is described. The method involves predetermining such parameters as the transverse cross-sectional areas of the passageways extending through the wall of the tubular body, the spacing of the passageways, the pressure at each of the passageways, and the rate of flow at each of the passageways. One specific preferred application of such a tubular body is an infusion catheter for delivering various fluids to designated areas of the body for either a therapeutic treatment and/or diagnostic purposes. For example, such a catheter may be adapted to deliver controlled and uniform quantities of thrombolytic agents, chemotherapeutic agents as well as such diagnostic agents as fluorescent dies and radioactive agents.