Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members formed of a heat-shrinkable material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting a mandrel into the first tubular member, heating the first tubular member to shrink it onto the mandrel, inserting the first tubular member with the mandrel therein into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member with the mandrel therein to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular member, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members, said fitting having passages which are in communication with a passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough from the fitting to the distal end and in communication with a passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members formed of a heat-shrinkable material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting a mandrel into the first tubular member, heating the first tubular member to shrink it onto the mandrel, inserting the first tubular member with the mandrel therein into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member with the mandrel therein to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular member, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members, said fitting having passages which are in communication with a passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough from the fitting to the distal end and in communication with a passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members formed of a heat-shrinkable material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting a mandrel into the first tubular member, heating the first tubular member to shrink it onto the mandrel, inserting the first tubular member with the mandrel therein into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member with the mandrel therein to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular member, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members which are in communication with the passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough and in communication with the passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members formed of a heat-shrinkable material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting a mandrel into the first tubular member, heating the first tubular member to shrink it onto the mandrel, inserting the first tubular member with the mandrel therein into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member with the mandrel therein to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular member, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members which are in communication with the passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough and in communication with the passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the material and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion, cooling the inflatable annular portion while it is under pressure to retain the inflatable annular portion, inserting the first tubular member into the second tubular member so it extends therethrough, forming a fluid-tight seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular members, providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members and with passages which are in communication with the passage within the first tubular member and the passage between the first tubular member and the second tubular member and in communication with the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing first and second flexible tubular members, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the material and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion, cooling the inflatable annular portion while it is under pressure to retain the inflatable annular portion, inserting the first tubular member into the second tubular member so it extends therethrough, forming a fluid-tight seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular members, providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members and with passages which are in communication with the passage within the first tubular member and the passage between the first tubular member and the second tubular member and in communication with the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 3 together with the step of providing first and second tubular members formed of a heat-shrinkable material and wherein the formation of the seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular members is accomplished by heat-shrinking the second tubular member onto the first tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 4 together with the step of inserting a flush wire into the passage in communication with the inflatable annular portion to facilitate the venting of any air in the inflatable annular portion when the inflatable annular portion is filled with a radiographic contrast liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing a tubular member formed of plastic material, providing a first tubular member formed of plastic material, providing a second flexible tubular member formed of a heat-shrinkable plastic material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting the first tubular member into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular members, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members, said fitting having passages which are in communication with a passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough from the fitting to the distal end and in communication with a passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a method for forming a dilating catheter assembly, providing a tubular member formed of plastic material, providing a first tubular member formed of plastic material, providing a second flexible tubular member formed of a heat-shrinkable plastic material, the second tubular member having a diameter greater than that of the first tubular member, the first and second tubular members having proximal and distal ends, heating a portion of the second tubular member adjacent the distal end to a temperature above a predetermined temperature and introducing a fluid under pressure to cause expansion of said portion to form an inflatable annular portion and cooling the same while under pressure to maintain said inflatable annular portion in said second tubular member, inserting the first tubular member into the second tubular member, heating the distal end of the second tubular member to cause it to shrink onto the first tubular member to form an adhesive-free seal between the distal ends of the first and second tubular members, and providing a fitting on the proximal ends of the first and second tubular members, said fitting having passages which are in communication with a passage in the first tubular member extending therethrough from the fitting to the distal end and in communication with a passage in the second tubular member extending from the fitting into the inflatable annular portion.