Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A medical sphincterotome, comprising: an elongated multi-lumen tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and being sized to be received in an endoscopic lumen; a cutter having a cutting edge located along said distal end of said tubular member and oriented generally longitudinally with respect to said tubular member, wherein said cutting edge is movable in a cutting plane to cut a patient's sphincter, said cutter being connected to a conductor disposed in a first longitudinal lumen in said tubular member; a second longitudinal lumen along the length of said tubular member for receiving reinforcing means; and reinforcing means disposed in said second longitudinal lumen for resisting movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane, said reinforcing means having a first cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a bending axis normal to said cutting plane, said reinforcing means further having a second cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a resisting axis lying along said cutting plane and generally perpendicular to said tubular member, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than said first moment of inertia along said distal end to resist bending out of said cutting plane to provided controlled cutting of the patient's sphincter along said cutting plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A medical sphincterotome, comprising: an elongated multi-lumen tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and being sized to be received in an endoscopic lumen; a cutter having a cutting edge located along said distal end of said tubular member and oriented generally longitudinally with respect to said tubular member, wherein said cutting edge is movable in a cutting plane to cut a patient's sphincter, said cutter being connected to a conductor disposed in a first longitudinal lumen in said tubular member; a second longitudinal lumen along the length of said tubular member for receiving reinforcing means; and reinforcing means disposed in said second longitudinal lumen for resisting movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane, said reinforcing means having a first cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a bending axis normal to said cutting plane, said reinforcing means further having a second cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a resisting axis lying along said cutting plane and generally perpendicular to said tubular member, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than said first moment of inertia along said distal end to resist bending out of said cutting plane to provided controlled cutting of the patient's sphincter along said cutting plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sphincterotome of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means comprises a cross-sectionally rectangular wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sphincterotome of claim 2 wherein said second longitudinal lumen has a rectangular cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said reinforcing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sphincterotome of claim 3 wherein said first longitudinal lumen has an opening at said distal end of said tubular member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sphincterotome of claim 4 and further comprising indicating means at said distal end of said tubular member for providing visual indication of the position of said distal end in the patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sphincterotome of claim 5 wherein said cutter comprises a wire bowed between first and second locations at said distal end outside of said first longitudinal lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sphincterotome of claim 1 wherein said second longitudinal lumen has a rectangular cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sphincterotome of claim 1 wherein said first longitudinal lumen has an opening at said distal end of said tubular member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sphincterotome of claim 1 and further comprising indicating means at said distal end of said tubular member for providing visual indication of the position of said distal end in the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sphincterotome of claim 1 wherein said cutter comprises a wire bowed between first and second locations at said distal end outside of said first longitudinal lumen.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
298 words
A method of surgically cutting a patient's sphincter, comprising the steps of: positioning an endoscope near the sphincter to allow viewing of the sphincter; extending a sphincterotome out of an opening in said endoscope and into engagement with the sphincter, said sphincterotome comprising: an elongated multi-lumen tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and being sized to be received in an endoscopic lumen; a cutter having a cutting edge located along said distal end of said tubular member and oriented generally longitudinally with respect to said tubular member, wherein said cutting edge is movable in a cutting plane to cut the patient's sphincter, said cutter being connected to a conductor disposed in a first longitudinal lumen in said tubular member; a second longitudinal lumen along the length of said tubular member for receiving reinforcing means; and reinforcing means disposed in said second longitudinal lumen for resisting movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane, said reinforcing means having a first cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a bending axis normal to said cutting plane, said reinforcing means further having a second cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a resisting axis lying along said cutting plane and generally perpendicular to said tubular member, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than said first moment of inertia along said distal end to resist bending out of said cutting plane; orienting said cutting edge and said reinforcing means so that said cutting plane is oriented radially with respect to a center of the sphincter; and energizing said cutter with said cutting edge in said cutting plane to cut the sphincter radially outward of said center of the sphincter while said reinforcing means resists movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
298 words
A method of surgically cutting a patient's sphincter, comprising the steps of: positioning an endoscope near the sphincter to allow viewing of the sphincter; extending a sphincterotome out of an opening in said endoscope and into engagement with the sphincter, said sphincterotome comprising: an elongated multi-lumen tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and being sized to be received in an endoscopic lumen; a cutter having a cutting edge located along said distal end of said tubular member and oriented generally longitudinally with respect to said tubular member, wherein said cutting edge is movable in a cutting plane to cut the patient's sphincter, said cutter being connected to a conductor disposed in a first longitudinal lumen in said tubular member; a second longitudinal lumen along the length of said tubular member for receiving reinforcing means; and reinforcing means disposed in said second longitudinal lumen for resisting movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane, said reinforcing means having a first cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a bending axis normal to said cutting plane, said reinforcing means further having a second cross-sectional moment of inertia with respect to a resisting axis lying along said cutting plane and generally perpendicular to said tubular member, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than said first moment of inertia along said distal end to resist bending out of said cutting plane; orienting said cutting edge and said reinforcing means so that said cutting plane is oriented radially with respect to a center of the sphincter; and energizing said cutter with said cutting edge in said cutting plane to cut the sphincter radially outward of said center of the sphincter while said reinforcing means resists movement of said cutting edge out of said cutting plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said reinforcing means comprises a cross-sectionally rectangular wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said sphincter is the Sphincter of Oddi in the Papilla of Vater.