Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially elliposoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; and (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially elliposoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; and (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 1 further comprising a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath, said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 1 wherein said abrasive material covers only the distal surface of said tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 1 wherein the coarseness of said abrasive material is varied from finest to most coarse, with the most coarse abrasive material adjacent the distal end of said tip and the finest abrasive material closest to the portion of said tip having the widest diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 4 wherein said abrasive material does not cover the surface of said tip where said tip has its widest diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 5 wherein said abrasive material does not cover the surface of said tip between the proximal end of said tip and the portion of said tip which has its widest diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable cutting tip is not fluted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The transluminal microdissection device of claim 1 further comprising a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath, said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
199 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person; (d) a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and forms a lumen between said drive shaft and said sheath; and (e) a chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath and communicating with said lumen, said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes and a port which extends into said chamber means wherein said lumen is accessible through said port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
199 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person; (d) a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and forms a lumen between said drive shaft and said sheath; and (e) a chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath and communicating with said lumen, said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes and a port which extends into said chamber means wherein said lumen is accessible through said port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a flexible drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the distal surface of said tip, the abrasive material adjacent the distal end of said tip being more coarse then abrasive material closer to the portion of said tip where said tip has its widest diameter; and (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a flexible drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft; (b) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the distal surface of said tip, the abrasive material adjacent the distal end of said tip being more coarse then abrasive material closer to the portion of said tip where said tip has its widest diameter; and (c) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the abrasive material comprises diamond chips having a largest dimension of substantially 30 microns or smaller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the abrasive material comprises diamond chips having a largest dimension of substantially 30 microns or smaller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a guide wire; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (c) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; and (d) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
A transluminal microdissection device comprising: (a) a guide wire; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft having a rotatable, substantially ellipsoidal cutting tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said hollow drive shaft so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along a guide wire; (c) an abrasive surface on said tip, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material attached to the surface of said tip; and (d) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 20,000 revolutions per minute to about 160,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.