Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A catheter assembly comprising: a guiding catheter having a tip for insertion into a coronary lumen; and a length of tubing, having a proximate end connected to the guiding catheter, and being pivotable between a first position, in which the proximate end is end to end with the tip of the guiding catheter, and a second position, in which the proximate end is parallel to and adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A catheter assembly comprising: a guiding catheter having a tip for insertion into a coronary lumen; and a length of tubing, having a proximate end connected to the guiding catheter, and being pivotable between a first position, in which the proximate end is end to end with the tip of the guiding catheter, and a second position, in which the proximate end is parallel to and adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of tubing has a plurality of side holes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guide wire for holding the tubing in the first position until the guide wire is removed from the tubing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of indicators, one located near the tip of the guiding catheter and the other located near the proximate end of the tubing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubing is curved when the tubing is in the second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A catheter assembly comprising: a dilating catheter; a guiding catheter having a tip for insertion into a coronary lumen for guiding the dilating catheter into the coronary lumen; and a length of tubing, having a proximate end connected to the guiding catheter, and being pivotable between a first position, in which the proximate end is end to end with the tip of the guiding catheter, and a second position, in which the proximate end is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A catheter assembly comprising: a dilating catheter; a guiding catheter having a tip for insertion into a coronary lumen for guiding the dilating catheter into the coronary lumen; and a length of tubing, having a proximate end connected to the guiding catheter, and being pivotable between a first position, in which the proximate end is end to end with the tip of the guiding catheter, and a second position, in which the proximate end is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 6, wherein the tubing has a plurality of side holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 6, further comprising a guide wire for holding the tubing in the first position until the guide wire is removed from the tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising a pair of indicators, one located near the tip of the guiding catheter and the other located near the proximate end of the tubing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter assembly, as recited in claim 6, wherein the tubing is curved when the tubing is in the second position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of using a catheter assembly, the method comprising the following steps in sequence: (a) inserting a guide wire into a guiding catheter and a length of tubing having a proximate end pivotally connected end to end to the tip of the guiding catheter; (b) inserting the guide wire, guiding catheter, and length of tubing into a patient's aorta; (c) removing the guide wire from the guiding catheter and tubing; and (d) maneuvering the guiding catheter to cause the tubing to pivot to a second position in which the proximate end of the tubing is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of using a catheter assembly, the method comprising the following steps in sequence: (a) inserting a guide wire into a guiding catheter and a length of tubing having a proximate end pivotally connected end to end to the tip of the guiding catheter; (b) inserting the guide wire, guiding catheter, and length of tubing into a patient's aorta; (c) removing the guide wire from the guiding catheter and tubing; and (d) maneuvering the guiding catheter to cause the tubing to pivot to a second position in which the proximate end of the tubing is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of using a catheter assembly to perform percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, the method comprising the following steps in sequence: (a) inserting a guide wire into a guiding catheter and a length of tubing having a proximate end pivotally connected end to end to the tip of the guiding catheter; (b) inserting the guide wire, guiding catheter, and length of tubing into a patient's aorta; (c) removing the guide wire from the guiding catheter and tubing; (d) maneuvering the guiding catheter to cause the tubing to pivot to a second position in which the proximate end of the tubing is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter; (e) inserting the tip of the guiding catheter and the proximate end of the tubing into a coronary lumen of a coronary artery; (f) passing a dilating catheter through the guiding catheter to a stenotic lesion within the coronary lumen; (g) inflating a balloon on the dilating catheter to dilate the stenotic lesion; (h) deflating the balloon; and (i) removing the catheters and tubing from the patient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of using a catheter assembly to perform percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, the method comprising the following steps in sequence: (a) inserting a guide wire into a guiding catheter and a length of tubing having a proximate end pivotally connected end to end to the tip of the guiding catheter; (b) inserting the guide wire, guiding catheter, and length of tubing into a patient's aorta; (c) removing the guide wire from the guiding catheter and tubing; (d) maneuvering the guiding catheter to cause the tubing to pivot to a second position in which the proximate end of the tubing is adjacent to the tip of the guiding catheter; (e) inserting the tip of the guiding catheter and the proximate end of the tubing into a coronary lumen of a coronary artery; (f) passing a dilating catheter through the guiding catheter to a stenotic lesion within the coronary lumen; (g) inflating a balloon on the dilating catheter to dilate the stenotic lesion; (h) deflating the balloon; and (i) removing the catheters and tubing from the patient.