Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: a supporting member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the body vessel; a balloon mounted on the supporting member, the supporting member including an inflation lumen in communication with the interior of the balloon and having a portion adapted to be disposed outside of the patient; the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic and having a plurality of minute perforations in the form of about thirty holes substantially regularly spaced about the balloon and each having a diameter of the order of 25 microns adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict the collapsing of the balloon about the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: a supporting member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the body vessel; a balloon mounted on the supporting member, the supporting member including an inflation lumen in communication with the interior of the balloon and having a portion adapted to be disposed outside of the patient; the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic and having a plurality of minute perforations in the form of about thirty holes substantially regularly spaced about the balloon and each having a diameter of the order of 25 microns adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict the collapsing of the balloon about the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
A catheter for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon being flexible, and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations in the form of about thirty holes substantially regularly spaced about the balloon and each having a diameter of the order of 25 microns adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow are sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
A catheter for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon being flexible, and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations in the form of about thirty holes substantially regularly spaced about the balloon and each having a diameter of the order of 25 microns adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow are sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein the catheter is dimensioned and adapted to be percutaneously inserted and advanced into the coronary arteries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A catheter for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon being flexible, and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A catheter for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon being flexible, and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter as defined in any one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the balloon includes a cylindrical perforated surface having an annular portion at each end that is free of perforations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the wall thickness of the balloon is no greater than about 0.001".
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the balloon is formed from polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as defined in claim 7 wherein the balloon includes a cylindrical perforated surface having an annular portion at each end that is free of perforations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as defined in claim 6 wherein the balloon includes a cylindrical perforated surface having an annular portion at each end that is free of perforations.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing a catheter including an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the digital end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the lumen, the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen; the inflated diameter of the balloon being no less than the diameter of the body lumen; inserting the catheter into the patient to locate the balloon in the lumen; inflating the balloon in the body lumen so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for a predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the issue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to deflate the balloon and remove the catheter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing a catheter including an elongated flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an inflation lumen extending from its proximal toward its distal end; a balloon mounted on the digital end of the shaft, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the lumen, the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapsing of the balloon about the catheter shaft under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen; the inflated diameter of the balloon being no less than the diameter of the body lumen; inserting the catheter into the patient to locate the balloon in the lumen; inflating the balloon in the body lumen so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for a predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the issue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to deflate the balloon and remove the catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the liquid is a concentrated medication and the pressure is not maintained beyond the time that the maximum amount of medication tolerable by the patient has wept through the balloon holes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the body lumen is an artery and further comprising first performing an angioplasty in the artery and then performing the perfusion with said catheter, the balloon of the catheter being the same diameter as the balloon of the catheter that performed the angioplasty.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the perforated balloon is inflated with concentrated heparin solution.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: a supporting member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the body vessel; a balloon mounted on the supporting member, the supporting member including an inflation lumen in communication with the interior of the balloon and having a portion adapted to be disposed outside of the patient; the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic and having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not t adversely restrict the collapsing of the balloon about the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for applying a liquid to a surface of the lumen of a body vessel and for effecting penetration of the liquid into the body vessel comprising: a supporting member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the body vessel; a balloon mounted on the supporting member, the supporting member including an inflation lumen in communication with the interior of the balloon and having a portion adapted to be disposed outside of the patient; the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic and having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not t adversely restrict the collapsing of the balloon about the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 14 wherein said support member comprises a catheter and the balloon is mounted on the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 14 wherein the wall thickness of the balloon is no greater than about 0.001".
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as defined in claim 16 wherein the balloon is formed from polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
35 words
A device as defined in any one of claims 14, 15, 16, 17 and 1 wherein the balloon includes a cylindrical perforated surface having an annular portion at each end that is free of perforations.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing a device including a support member, an inflation lumen and a balloon mounted on the support, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the lumen, the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapse of the balloon on the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen; the inflated cross-sectional dimension of the balloon being no less than that of the body lumen; inserting the device into the patient to locate the balloon in the body lumen; inflating the balloon in the body lumen so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for a predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the tissue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to deflate the balloon and remove the device.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing a device including a support member, an inflation lumen and a balloon mounted on the support, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the lumen, the balloon being flexible and substantially inelastic, the balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid, said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapse of the balloon on the support member under the influence of aspiration applied to the inflation lumen; the inflated cross-sectional dimension of the balloon being no less than that of the body lumen; inserting the device into the patient to locate the balloon in the body lumen; inflating the balloon in the body lumen so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for a predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the tissue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to deflate the balloon and remove the device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the pressure is not maintained beyond the time that the maximum amount of medication tolerable by the patient has wept through the balloon holes.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing an applicator that includes a flexible, substantially inelastic balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapse of the balloon to a smaller configuration under the influence of aspiration applied to the balloon, the inflated diameter of the balloon being no less than the diameter of the body lumen; inserting the balloon into the body lumen while in a deflated condition and then inflating the balloon so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the tissue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to reduce its size and then removing the balloon from the body lumen.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for causing a liquid to penetrate tissue defining a body lumen comprising: providing an applicator that includes a flexible, substantially inelastic balloon having a plurality of minute perforations adapted to provide a low, weeping flow rate of said liquid said flow rate being no greater than a predetermined maximum flow rate when liquid in the balloon is under pressure; said perforations defining a flow area sufficiently small so as not to adversely restrict collapse of the balloon to a smaller configuration under the influence of aspiration applied to the balloon, the inflated diameter of the balloon being no less than the diameter of the body lumen; inserting the balloon into the body lumen while in a deflated condition and then inflating the balloon so that it presses in intimate contact against the inner surface of the body lumen; maintaining fluid pressure for predetermined time to cause liquid to weep out of the holes in the balloon to form a thin film between the balloon and the lumen, the pressure level in the film being such as to force fluid to perfuse into the tissue; after a predetermined time, aspirating the balloon to reduce its size and then removing the balloon from the body lumen.