Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation, comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, said first member including at least one first hole near the distal end thereof; (b) a first inflatable balloon; (c) means for positioning said first balloon in the lumen of said first member adjacent the first hole therein and for occluding the lumen and for preventing the entrapment of air near the distal end thereof when said first balloon is inflated; and (d) means, including a flexible tubular member, for readily inflating and deflating said first balloon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation, comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, said first member including at least one first hole near the distal end thereof; (b) a first inflatable balloon; (c) means for positioning said first balloon in the lumen of said first member adjacent the first hole therein and for occluding the lumen and for preventing the entrapment of air near the distal end thereof when said first balloon is inflated; and (d) means, including a flexible tubular member, for readily inflating and deflating said first balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning is also for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member when said first balloon is inflated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said means for positioning additionally includes means for retracting said first balloon from the lumen of said first member after its proper insertion during cardiac cannulation to prevent any possible interference with blood flow through said first member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for positioning and for retracting and said means for inflating and deflating include: (a) a second flexible tubular member communicating with the lumen of said first member removed from the distal end thereof; (b) a third flexible tubular member extending from within said second member and communicating with said first balloon, said first balloon being retractable within said second member by manipulating said third member therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising means, including a flexible tubular passageway in said first member having an inlet opening near the proximal end thereof and an outlet opening near the distal end thereof, for infusing a solution upon insertion of the distal end of said first member into the circulatory system of a person during cannulation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first member includes a first plurality of holes near the distal end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for preventing is that said first balloon, when inflated, completely occludes the first holes and occupies the entire intraluminal space in the distal end of said first member to the exclusion of any entrapped air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for positioning and for allowing is that the most distal portion of said first balloon, when inflated, extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the first holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first member further includes at least one second hole therein spaced apart axially from the first hole, the apparatus additionally comprising: (a) a second inflatable balloon; (b) means for positioning said second balloon in the lumen of said first member adjacent the second hole therein and for occluding the second hole and lumen and for preventing the entrapment of air near the distal end thereof when said second balloon is inflated; and (c) means, including a flexible tubular member, for readily inflating and deflating said second balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for positioning and for retracting and said means for inflating and deflating said first and said second balloons include: (a) a second flexible tubular member communicating with the lumen of said first member removed from the distal end thereof; (b) a third flexible tubular member extending from within said second member and communicating with said first balloon, said first balloon being retractable within said second member by manipulating said third member therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first member includes a second plurality of holes therein spaced apart axially from the first holes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and the second holes are spaced apart along said first member a distance of between about 5 cm. and about 15 cm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the distance separating the first and the second holes is sufficient to allow positioning of the distal end of said first member and the first holes therein in the inferior vena cava of a human heart while the second holes are positioned in the right atrium of the heart during cardiac cannulation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the distance separating the first and the second holes is sufficient to allow positioning of the distal end of said first member and the first holes therein in the left ventricle of a human heart while the second holes are positioned in the left atrium of the heart during cardiac cannulation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising means, including a flexible tubular passageway in said first member having an inlet opening near the proximal end thereof and an outlet opening near the first and the second holes therein for infusing a solution into the circulatory system of a person during cannulation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination comprising: (a) a heart-lung machine means; and (b) the cannula apparatus of claim 15 connected to said machine means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first member includes a hole in the distal tip thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination comprising: (a) a heart-lung machine means; and (b) the cannula-apparatus of claim 1 connected to said machine means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for inserting a cannula during a cardiac cannulation technique, comprising the steps of: (a) filling the lumen of a cannula with liquid, the cannula including a first elongated flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the first member including at least one first hole near the distal end thereof; (b) positioning a first inflatable balloon in the lumen of the first member adjacent the first hole therein; (c) inflating the first balloon once positioned to occlude the lumen and prevent the entrapment of air near the distal end thereof; (d) inserting the filled and occluded cannula into the circulatory system of a person through a prepared incision; (e) deflating the first balloon to unocclude the cannula lumen and allow blood to flow therethrough; and (f) removing the deflated balloon from the cannula lumen to avoid any possible interference with the free flow of blood therethrough.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for inserting a cannula during a cardiac cannulation technique, comprising the steps of: (a) filling the lumen of a cannula with liquid, the cannula including a first elongated flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the first member including at least one first hole near the distal end thereof; (b) positioning a first inflatable balloon in the lumen of the first member adjacent the first hole therein; (c) inflating the first balloon once positioned to occlude the lumen and prevent the entrapment of air near the distal end thereof; (d) inserting the filled and occluded cannula into the circulatory system of a person through a prepared incision; (e) deflating the first balloon to unocclude the cannula lumen and allow blood to flow therethrough; and (f) removing the deflated balloon from the cannula lumen to avoid any possible interference with the free flow of blood therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 19 in which said positioning includes threading a second flexible tubular member with the first balloon attached thereto through a side-mounted passageway and the lumen of the first member until the first balloon reaches the first hole therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said removing includes threading the second tubular member and the first balloon back through the cannula lumen and into the side passageway.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said inflating and said deflating are by means of the second tubular member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said positioning and said inflating further comprise allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of the first member upon insertion thereof into the circulatory system of a person.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 additionally comprising infusing a solution into the cannulated areas in the circulatory system of the person during the cannulation procedure.