Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
1 . A body fluid flow control device comprising a resilient seal of substantially annular configuration; a frame extending within at least a portion of the resilient seal and including a passageway extending longitudinally through the frame and at least one longitudinally extending element having an insertion state and an anchoring state, the anchoring state being with the at least one longitudinally extending element outwardly of the insertion state, thereby expanding the portion of the resilient seal within which the frame extends, the passageway being inwardly of the at least one longitudinally extending element; a valve body having bulk resilience and a passage therethrough resiliently biased closed by the bulk resilience and communicating with the passageway; a valve support about the valve body and attached to the valve body and to the resilient seal, the passage being in communication with the passageway extending longitudinally through the frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
1 . A body fluid flow control device comprising a resilient seal of substantially annular configuration; a frame extending within at least a portion of the resilient seal and including a passageway extending longitudinally through the frame and at least one longitudinally extending element having an insertion state and an anchoring state, the anchoring state being with the at least one longitudinally extending element outwardly of the insertion state, thereby expanding the portion of the resilient seal within which the frame extends, the passageway being inwardly of the at least one longitudinally extending element; a valve body having bulk resilience and a passage therethrough resiliently biased closed by the bulk resilience and communicating with the passageway; a valve support about the valve body and attached to the valve body and to the resilient seal, the passage being in communication with the passageway extending longitudinally through the frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
2 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the resilient seal further including a skirt extending at least partially over the at least one longitudinally extending element to form a peripheral seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
3 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the resilient seal further including a skirt extending within the at least one longitudinally extending element and having a cuff over one end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending element to form a peripheral seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
4 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the resilient seal further including a skirt extending fully over the frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
5 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the passage having a predetermined fluid opening pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 5 , the fluid opening pressure being about 0.2 psi to 3.0 psi for urinary incontinence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
7 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 5 , the fluid opening pressure being about 0.005 psi to 1.0 psi for intervasoular placement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
8 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the passage being a single slit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
9 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the resilient seal, the valve body and the valve support being one piece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
10 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the at least one longitudinally extending element being heat recoverable with a transition temperature range below a reasonable range of human body temperatures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
11 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 , the at least one longitudinally extending element being spring biased toward the anchoring state and being held in the insertion state by a release wire separable from the frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
12 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 further comprising a flap attached to the valve body adjacent the passage and extending over the passage to restrict flow to one direction through the passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
13 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 1 further comprising an elongate expander means for expanding the at least one longitudinally extending element from the insertion state to the anchoring state, the at least one longitudinally extending element defining a concavity receiving at least a portion of the elongate expander means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
14 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 13 , the elongate expander means including a balloon at a distal end thereof with a passage extending substantially the length of the elongate expander means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
15 . The body fluid flow control device of claim 13 , the elongate expander means including an outer sheath into which the resilient seal and the frame are positionable in the insertion state and a ram extending within the sheath to engage the frame in the passageway extending longitudinally through the frame.