Catheter with distal and proximal ports

1. A system for collecting a flow from a blood vessel, comprising:

a collection member including:

an elongated, flexible tubular portion terminating at a distal end;

an annular sealing member movably disposed relative to and about the tubular portion and spaced from the distal end;

a collection lumen;

a proximal end adapted to be positioned extracorporealy and connected to a source of suction for applying a suction to the collection lumen;

at least one distal port in fluid communication with the collection lumen, the at least one distal port being located distal to the sealing member; and

at least one proximal port in fluid communication with the collection lumen, the at least one proximal port adapted to be disposed intracorporeally and proximal to the sealing member;

wherein the annular sealing member, by moving relative to the tubular portion, is adapted to proportionate a flow from the blood vessel entering the collection lumen from the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port, and wherein the annular sealing member is configured to move proximally along the tubular portion so as to alter an inlet area of the proximal port, and wherein the annular sealing member is configured to move distally along the tubular portion so as to alter an inlet area of the distal port; and

wherein when the suction is applied to the collection lumen, the flow from the blood vessel is adapted to enter the collection lumen through both of the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a position of the annular sealing element alters a number of distal ports and a number of proximal ports exposed along the tubular portion.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow from the blood vessel is further proportionated by at least one of:

i) a predetermined size of the each of the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port; and

ii) a predetermined quantity of each of the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the flow from the blood vessel is proportionated by both of the predetermined size and the predetermined quantity of each of the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port.

5. The system of claim 1 , further including a sealed collection container connected to the proximal end for collecting blood from the collection lumen.

6. The system of claim 1 , further including a regulator that connects to a source of vacuum, the regulator having an output end connected to the lumen to apply a regulated vacuum to the lumen, the regulator being adjustable to adjust the vacuum, the regulator allowing application of a suction to the lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the at least one distal port and the at least one proximal port and into the lumen.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collection lumen comprises a first collection lumen in fluid communication with the distal port, and a second collection lumen in fluid communication with the proximal port, and wherein both the first collection lumen and the second collection lumen are in fluidic communication with the proximal end of the collection member and the source of suction.