Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A cardiac ballon catheter for opening an occlusion in a blood vessel, comprising an elongated, flexible catheter tube receivable within the blood vessel, and a balloon carried by the catheter tube and inflatable to open the occlusion in the blood vessel; characterized in that said catheter further includes a sleeve received over said balloon when deflated for movement therewith to said occlusion in the blood vessel; said sleeve being longitudinally split so as to be expansible from a small diameter to a large diameter upon the inflation of the balloon, and being self-supporting in its larger-diameter condition to support the wall of the blood vessel upon the deflation of the balloon and the removal of the balloon catheter from the blood vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A cardiac ballon catheter for opening an occlusion in a blood vessel, comprising an elongated, flexible catheter tube receivable within the blood vessel, and a balloon carried by the catheter tube and inflatable to open the occlusion in the blood vessel; characterized in that said catheter further includes a sleeve received over said balloon when deflated for movement therewith to said occlusion in the blood vessel; said sleeve being longitudinally split so as to be expansible from a small diameter to a large diameter upon the inflation of the balloon, and being self-supporting in its larger-diameter condition to support the wall of the blood vessel upon the deflation of the balloon and the removal of the balloon catheter from the blood vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The catheter according to Claim 1, wherein said split sleeve is of an elastic material and is of its larger diameter when in its relaxed condition, said split sleeve including releasable retainer means for retaining it in its stressed smaller-diameter condition until the inflation of the balloon releases it for expansion to its larger-diameter condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The catheter according to Claim 2, wherein said releasable retainer means comprises a projection at one end of the split sleeve and receivable within a recess adjacent to the other end of the split sleeve when the split sleeveis in its stressed smaller-diameter condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The catheter according to Claim 1, wherein said split sleeve is of an elastic material and is of its smaller diameter in its relaxed condition, said sleeve including locking means for locking the sleeve in its larger-diameter condition when expanded by the inflation of the balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The catheter according to Claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises one or more recesses formed in an inner surface of said split sleeve and spaced inwardly from one end thereof, which recesses are adapted to receive the opposite edge of the split sleeve when the split sleeve is expanded to its larger diameter by the inflation of the balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter according to Claim 1, wherein said split sleeve is of a semi-rigid, non-elastic material capable of enlarging its diameter upon the inflation of the balloon and retaining its larger diameter upon the deflation and removal of athe balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter according to Claim 1, wherein said split sleeve includes a hole therethrough to facilitate its removal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The catheter according to any one of Claims 1-7, wherein said catheter further includes a bypass conduit having its opposite ends communicating with the outer faces of the catheter tube on the opposite sides of the balloon to provide a flow path for the blood bypassing said balloon when the balloon is inflated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter according to Claim 8, wherein said bypass conduit passes through said balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter according to Claim 8, wherein said bypass conduit passes through said balloon.