Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A medical catheter 14 or the like comprised of elastomeric material, characterized in that said catheter is constructed for use with a preselected trocar 12 having a trocar head larger than an adjoining neck 26 and supporting shaft 18, said catheter having a distal end portion 16 defining an aperture 36 smaller than the diameter of said shaft, said distal end portion configured and adapted to elastically expand in diameter to permit passage of said trocar head therethrough and to elastically contract to engage about the neck of said trocar, the outer diameter of the portion of said catheter, engaged about the neck of said trocar being about the same as the diameter of the proximal end of the trocar head so that there is no movement-impeding protrusion at the transition between the outer surfaces of said trocar head and the distal portion of said catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A medical catheter 14 or the like comprised of elastomeric material, characterized in that said catheter is constructed for use with a preselected trocar 12 having a trocar head larger than an adjoining neck 26 and supporting shaft 18, said catheter having a distal end portion 16 defining an aperture 36 smaller than the diameter of said shaft, said distal end portion configured and adapted to elastically expand in diameter to permit passage of said trocar head therethrough and to elastically contract to engage about the neck of said trocar, the outer diameter of the portion of said catheter, engaged about the neck of said trocar being about the same as the diameter of the proximal end of the trocar head so that there is no movement-impeding protrusion at the transition between the outer surfaces of said trocar head and the distal portion of said catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The catheter of claim 1 characterized in that the end portion of said catheter is specially shaped to substantially fill the space surrounding the neck region of said trocar in the manner to provide a smoothly formed transition from the exterior surface 24 of said head to the exterior surface of said catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter or the like of claim characterized in that the wall of its distal end portion has at least one longitudinal slit 38 to facilitate the expansion of said distal portion and withdrawal of said trocar head 20 therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter or the like of claim 1 characterized in that the distal end portion 16 of said catheter is comprised of at least two cylindrical layers 32, 34 in overlying relationship, one said layer being elastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The catheter or the like of claim 4 characterized in that the inner 34 of said cylindrical layers is of relatively stiff substance, and is slit longitudinally 38 at least at one point about its circumference to enable expansion of said catheter neck 26 to permit passage of the head 20 of the trocar therethrough, and said elastic layer 32 is continuous and overlies the region of said slit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
The medical catheter of any of the foregoing claims in combination with a trocar or the like (12), said combination being adapted for introduction into the body of a person, characterized in that, said trocar comprises an elongated, rigid shaft 18 sized to extend coaxially through said catheter, said trocar having a generally pointed head 20 at its distal end, and a reduced size portion 26 immediately proximal of said head, whereby, during insertion of said catheter by means of said trocar, there is no movement-impeding protrusion at the transition between said trocar head and the distal portion of the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The medical catheter and trocar combination of claim 6 characterized in that, the distal surface of said trocar immediately proximal of said head 20 comprises a camming surface 28 disposed at an angle to the trocar axis to urge the end of the catheter to expand radially as said trocar is progressively withdrawn from the catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The medical catheter and trocar combination of claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the main body of the trocar shaft 18 is larger than said reduced size portion to define a neck 26 that provides a surface having a distally-directed component for applying insertion force to the end portion of said catheter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trocar of claim 7 characterized in that wherein said camming surface is a surface 28 of revolution of distally increasing diameter to the head of said trocar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trocar of claim 6, 7 or 9 characterized in that the largest diameter of said head and the diameter of the main body of the shaft are the same.