Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for ablating a deposit within a vessel of a patient, characterised in that it comprises: a. a catheter (12) having a proximal end and a distal end (56); b. supplying means (38) coupled to said proximal end of the catheter for supplying a fluid under high pressure; c. directing means (122, 132) coupled to said distal end of the catheter for directing a stream of the fluid under high pressure at the deposit; and d. preventing means (126, 140) coupled to said distal end of the catheter for preventing the stream of fluid under high pressure from directly impinging upon the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the fluid is a saline solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the preventing means comprises a target interposed between the directing means and the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the target is an integral part of the catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the directing means comprises one or more high pressure jets.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the target is distal of the directing means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the directing means is distal of the target.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, which includes an ultrasonic transducer array coupled to said distal end of the catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is directed toward the deposit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is directed toward a reflecting device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the directing means directs the stream of fluid under high pressure parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the directing means directs the stream of fluid under high pressure nonparallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, which includes evacuating means coupled to said distal end of the catheter for evacuating particulate matter ablated from the deposit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said evacuating means comprises an evacuation lumen toward which the stream of fluid under high pressure is directed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, which includes an inflatable balloon for positioning said distal end of the catheter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for ablating a deposit in a vessel of a patient, characterised in that it comprises: advancing a catheter with a proximal end and a distal end until said distal end of the catheter is positioned at the site of the deposit; supplying a stream of high pressure fluid to impinge upon the deposit thereby to ablate it; and interposing a target intermediate the stream of high pressure fluid and the vessel to protect the vessel from the stream of high pressure fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 16, which includes monitoring the ablating with an ultrasonic transducer array coupled to said distal end of the catheter.