Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An intra-aortic balloon device for the body of a subject comprising: an elongated tubular catheter having a distal end adapted to be inserted into the body and a proximal end, an inflatable and deflatable envelope having its distal end sealed and its proximal end attached to the distal end of said catheter, said catheter adapted for supplying fluid therethrough to inflate and deflate said envelope, an elongated member having a distal first portion extending within the envelope to form a support therefor and a second portion extending within said catheter, the distal end of said envelope being attached to the distal end of said elongated member, means for attaching the second portion of said elongated member to said catheter, at least part of said elongated member being of a material which is twisted relative to its longitudinal axis to store energy as said envelope is rotated to wrap it relative to said catheter and said elongated member is rotated between the distal end of said envelope and its part of the second portion attached to the catheter, said energy storage part of said elongated member having a retentive memory to untwist and to tend to restore to its original shape by releasing its energy stored during twisting to assist in unwrapping the envelope.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An intra-aortic balloon device for the body of a subject comprising: an elongated tubular catheter having a distal end adapted to be inserted into the body and a proximal end, an inflatable and deflatable envelope having its distal end sealed and its proximal end attached to the distal end of said catheter, said catheter adapted for supplying fluid therethrough to inflate and deflate said envelope, an elongated member having a distal first portion extending within the envelope to form a support therefor and a second portion extending within said catheter, the distal end of said envelope being attached to the distal end of said elongated member, means for attaching the second portion of said elongated member to said catheter, at least part of said elongated member being of a material which is twisted relative to its longitudinal axis to store energy as said envelope is rotated to wrap it relative to said catheter and said elongated member is rotated between the distal end of said envelope and its part of the second portion attached to the catheter, said energy storage part of said elongated member having a retentive memory to untwist and to tend to restore to its original shape by releasing its energy stored during twisting to assist in unwrapping the envelope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for rotating said elongated member, the rotation of said elongated member wrapping said envelope around said first portion of said elongated member with the envelope twisting about its proximal end which is attached to said catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said elongated member comprises a tip piece at said distal end of said envelope to which the distal end of the first portion of said elongated member is connected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said elongated member further comprises a member for engaging said tip piece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for applying fluid to the interior of said envelope through said catheter, applying negative pressure to said envelope holding the envelope in the wrapped condition and said elongated member energy storage part in the twisted condition, the release of said elongated member permitting it to return to its relaxed state and thereby assist in the unwrapping of the envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 5 wherein said catheter has an opening at its distal end, through which the fluid is applied to and withdrawn from said envelope, said catheter distal end terminating at the proximal end of the envelope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the entire length of said elongated member comprises the part for storing the energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in either claim 1 or 7 where said elongated member is hollow along its length and has an opening for communicating with an environment external to the envelope at each end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as in claim 8 wherein said catheter is elongated and is formed with an exit port at its proximal end, said second portion of said elongated member extending into said catheter passing through said catheter exit port and exiting from said catheter, said attaching means for said second portion of said elongated member fixedly attaching said second portion to said catheter at said exit port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 9 further comprising a guide means adapted to pass through said hollow elongated member and over which said device can be moved.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as in claim 10 further comprising a sheath for insertion through a percutaneous opening of the body into an artery, said guide means adapted to pass into the artery through said sheath and said balloon device passing over said guide means and through said sheath into the artery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device as in claim 11 further comprising means for applying fluid to the interior of said envelope through said catheter, applying negative pressure to said envelope holding the envelope in the wrapped condition and said elongated member in the twisted condition, the release of said elongated member permitting it to untwist and assist in the unwrapping of the envelope.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for rotating said elongated member, the rotation of said elongated member wrapping said envelope around said first portion of said elongated member with the envelope twisting about its said proximal end which is fastened to said catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said first portion of said elongated member within said envelope is hollow along at least a portion of its length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as in either claim 13 or 14 wherein said means for rotating said elongated member comprises means for engaging and rotating the distal end of said envelope, said engaging and rotating means including an elongated piece extending into the hollow first portion of said elongated member for at least a portion of the length of said envelope to maintain said envelope portion generally straight during rotation of said elongated member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said twistable energy storage part of said elongated member is within said catheter and comprises an elastic member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 16 wherein said elastic member is a stretchable band which is held within said catheter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said first portion of said elongated member within said envelope is solid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 18 wherein said twistable energy storage part of said elongated member is within said catheter and comprises an elastic member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 19 wherein said elastic member is a stretchable band which is held within said catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 20 further comprising means for connecting one end of said band to the proximal end of said solid first portion of said elongated member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 21 wherein said connecting means is located in said catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in either claim 1 or 17 wherein said first portion of said elongated member within said envelope has variable flexibility between its distal end and its proximal end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 23 wherein said first portion of said elongated member is more flexible at its distal end than at its proximal end.