Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A catheter comprising an elongated tubular device having an end portion adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the body and a base portion adapted to be grasped by the hand, an actuating wire extending along the axis of said tubular device from said end to the base portion and having a rounded terminal member tightly fitted thereto at the insertable end, a tubing loosely surrounding said wire and extending between the rounded member and the base portion of the device, cylindrical ferrules spaced from and surrounding said actuating wire and tubing at the insertable end of the device and at the base portion, leaving annular spaces therebetween, the ferrule at the insertable end being affixed to said rounded member and movable lengthwise of the tubular device when a pull is exerted on the actuating wire, the ferrule at the base portion of the device being stationary with respect to said portion, and a plurality of flexure beams having their ends detachably and slidably positioned respectively within the spaces between the ferrules and the actuating wire, the intermediate portions of said beams normally resting on said tubing, whereby when a pull is exerted on said wire, the movable ferrule moves toward the stationary ferrule and the flexure beams are caused to bow outwardly from said tubing so as to expand the blood vessel in which the catheter is inserted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A catheter comprising an elongated tubular device having an end portion adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the body and a base portion adapted to be grasped by the hand, an actuating wire extending along the axis of said tubular device from said end to the base portion and having a rounded terminal member tightly fitted thereto at the insertable end, a tubing loosely surrounding said wire and extending between the rounded member and the base portion of the device, cylindrical ferrules spaced from and surrounding said actuating wire and tubing at the insertable end of the device and at the base portion, leaving annular spaces therebetween, the ferrule at the insertable end being affixed to said rounded member and movable lengthwise of the tubular device when a pull is exerted on the actuating wire, the ferrule at the base portion of the device being stationary with respect to said portion, and a plurality of flexure beams having their ends detachably and slidably positioned respectively within the spaces between the ferrules and the actuating wire, the intermediate portions of said beams normally resting on said tubing, whereby when a pull is exerted on said wire, the movable ferrule moves toward the stationary ferrule and the flexure beams are caused to bow outwardly from said tubing so as to expand the blood vessel in which the catheter is inserted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A catheter according to claim 1 and in which said beams are constituted of rectangularly shaped beams arranged in a circular outline, said ferrules having slots at their inside surfaces extending radially outward for slidable receiving the ends of the beams, said slots being of a shape and size as snugly but detachably to hold the beams in position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter according to claim 1 and means for measuring the strain in the actuator wire to determine the counter-force that the vessel exerts against the deployment of the dilating device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter according to claim 3, said means comprising a normally balanced Wheatstone Bridge device in which one of the resistance arms is secured to the actuator wire to partake of the strain imparted to the wire for measurement by said device.