Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for treating a tumor in the body of a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a catheter having a suction lumen and an infusion lumen extending beyond the suction lumen and a seal associated with each of such lumens in a vein of the patient near the tumor; (b) sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein between the infusion lumen and the suction lumen with the infusion seal; (c) sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein past the suction lumen with the suction seal; (d) injecting a chemotherapeutic agent from the infusion lumen into the patient's vein so that it may perfuse through the tumor; and (e) collecting the chemotherapeutic agent in the suction lumen after perfusion through the tumor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for treating a tumor in the body of a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a catheter having a suction lumen and an infusion lumen extending beyond the suction lumen and a seal associated with each of such lumens in a vein of the patient near the tumor; (b) sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein between the infusion lumen and the suction lumen with the infusion seal; (c) sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein past the suction lumen with the suction seal; (d) injecting a chemotherapeutic agent from the infusion lumen into the patient's vein so that it may perfuse through the tumor; and (e) collecting the chemotherapeutic agent in the suction lumen after perfusion through the tumor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: analyzing the collected chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: filtering the collected chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, further including the step of: re-injecting the filtered chemotherapeutic agent into the vein of the patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: maintaining the rate of collection substantially equal to the rate of injection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: mapping a selected portion of the tumor blood vessels prior to said step of placing the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: testing the patient's venous system for possible leakage past the suction seal prior to said step of injecting a chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A catheter apparatus for treating a tumor in the body of a patient with a chemotherapeutic agent, comprising: (a) catheter means for location in a vein of the patient near the tumor, said catheter means comprising: (1) a suction lumen; and (2) an infusion lumen extending beyond said suction lumen; (b) infusion seal means on said catheter means between said infusion lumen and said suction lumen; (c) suction seal means on said catheter means for sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein past said suction lumen; (d) means for injecting a chemotherapeutic agent into the patient's vein from said injection lumen so that it may perfuse through the tumor; and (e) means for collecting the chemotherapeutic agent from said suction lumen after perfusion through the tumor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A catheter apparatus for treating a tumor in the body of a patient with a chemotherapeutic agent, comprising: (a) catheter means for location in a vein of the patient near the tumor, said catheter means comprising: (1) a suction lumen; and (2) an infusion lumen extending beyond said suction lumen; (b) infusion seal means on said catheter means between said infusion lumen and said suction lumen; (c) suction seal means on said catheter means for sealing the flow of fluid in the patient's vein past said suction lumen; (d) means for injecting a chemotherapeutic agent into the patient's vein from said injection lumen so that it may perfuse through the tumor; and (e) means for collecting the chemotherapeutic agent from said suction lumen after perfusion through the tumor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further including: means for analyzing the collected chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further including: means for filtering the collected chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further including: means for re-injecting the filtered chemotherapeutic agent into the vein of the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further including: means maintaining the rate of collection at said suction lumen substantially equal to the rate of injection at said injection catheter means.