Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A surgical catheter comprising a distal end for advancing into a blood vessel at a single incision remote from occlusions, a proximal end for manipulating the catheter ex vivo , a body portion connecting the ends, and means adjacent said distal end for cutting away such occlusions while said distal end is at a location removed from the incision, said cutting means including at least a movable cutting edge; characterized in that said movable cutting edge is disposed so that it faces rearwardly, towards said body portion; and further including means for moving said cutting edge rearwardly to cut tissue or fatty deposits towards the body portion and the remote incision.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A surgical catheter comprising a distal end for advancing into a blood vessel at a single incision remote from occlusions, a proximal end for manipulating the catheter ex vivo , a body portion connecting the ends, and means adjacent said distal end for cutting away such occlusions while said distal end is at a location removed from the incision, said cutting means including at least a movable cutting edge; characterized in that said movable cutting edge is disposed so that it faces rearwardly, towards said body portion; and further including means for moving said cutting edge rearwardly to cut tissue or fatty deposits towards the body portion and the remote incision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1, and further including shield means in front of said cutting edge to shield tissue from contacting said cutting edge while said distal end is being advanced through the artery away from the incision.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 or 2, and further including a stationary cutting edge and means for reciprocating said movable cutting edge relative to said stationary cutting edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said moving means includes means for reciprocating said cutting edge.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for removing fatty deposits from occlusions in blood vessels using a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a body portion connecting said ends, and cutting means on said distal end for cutting away such fatty deposits; the method comprising the steps of forming an incision in such blood vessel at a location remote from such occlusions, inserting said distal end and body portion into the incision, advancing said distal end and body portion towards such occlusion while retaining said proximal end ex vivo , positioning said distal end over an occlusion, and pulling one of said cutting means rearwardly towards said body portion to cut said occlusion.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for removing fatty deposits from occlusions in blood vessels using a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a body portion connecting said ends, and cutting means on said distal end for cutting away such fatty deposits; the method comprising the steps of forming an incision in such blood vessel at a location remote from such occlusions, inserting said distal end and body portion into the incision, advancing said distal end and body portion towards such occlusion while retaining said proximal end ex vivo , positioning said distal end over an occlusion, and pulling one of said cutting means rearwardly towards said body portion to cut said occlusion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 5, and further including the step of removing fatty deposits cut from said occlusion, out through said body portion.