Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A valved catheter comprising (a) an elongated, flexible tubular element extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted for flow of fluid between said proximal and said distal end, and (b) a valve assembly coupled to the interior of the tubular element, said assembly generally defining a nominal control plane which intersects said central axis at an oblique angle, said assembly having a flow portion nominally disposed to lie in said control plane whereby said assembly establishes a fluid seal across the interior of said tubular element at said control plane, said flow portion including a flexible vane having its periphery affixed at least in part to the interior of said tubular element and positioned between said intersection of said control plane with said central axis and said distal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said distal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively high fluid pressure at said proximal end and a relatively low fluid pressure at said distal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A valved catheter comprising (a) an elongated, flexible tubular element extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted for flow of fluid between said proximal and said distal end, and (b) a valve assembly coupled to the interior of the tubular element, said assembly generally defining a nominal control plane which intersects said central axis at an oblique angle, said assembly having a flow portion nominally disposed to lie in said control plane whereby said assembly establishes a fluid seal across the interior of said tubular element at said control plane, said flow portion including a flexible vane having its periphery affixed at least in part to the interior of said tubular element and positioned between said intersection of said control plane with said central axis and said distal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said distal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively high fluid pressure at said proximal end and a relatively low fluid pressure at said distal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
191 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said element is adapted for bidirectional flow of fluid and wherein said valve assembly is a bidirectional valve assembly, said flow portion having an inflow portion and an outflow portion nominally disposed to lie in said control plane wherein said assembly establishes a fluid seal across the interior of said tubular element at said control plane, said inflow portion including a flexible inflow van positioned between said intersection of said control plane with said central axis and said distal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said distal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively high fluid pressure at said proximal end and a relatively low fluid pressure at said distal end, and said outflow portion including a flexible outflow vane positioned between said intersection of said central plane with said central axis and said proximal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said proximal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively low fluid pressure at said proximal end and a relatively high fluid pressure at said distal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said bidirectional valve assembly comprises resilient and deflectable portions such that said inflow vane is displaceable by flexing in a first direction generally along said central axis and said outflow vane is displaceable by flexing in a second direction opposite to said first direction generally along said central axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said tubular element defines a substantially circular cross-section interior region extending along said central axis and said assembly includes a flexible elliptical disk-shaped element which nominally lies in said control plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 4 wherein at least a part of the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element is affixed to the interior surface of said tubular element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The catheter of claim 5 wherein said elliptical disk-shaped element defines two disk axes normal to said central axis, said two disk axes including a major axis and a minor axis which is normal to said major axis, the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element located about said minor axis being affixed to the interior of said tubular element along a first portion and a second portion of said periphery, a third portion of said periphery defining said inflow vane located about said major axis and being displaceable in a first direction generally along said central axis, and a fourth portion of said periphery defining said outflow vane located about said major axis and being displaceable in a second direction opposite to said first direction generally along said central axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said inflow vane is defined by an arcuate segment of said disk-shaped element located about said major axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said outflow vane is defined by an arcuate segment of said disk-shaped element located about said major axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said periphery first portion and said periphery second portion are generally positioned in opposition to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said periphery third portion and said periphery fourth portion are generally positioned in opposition to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said valve assembly is entirely internal to said tubular element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said valve assembly is affixed to the interior of said tubular element at all points along the periphery of said disk-shaped element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 12 wherein said inflow vane is defined by an arcuate slit in said inflow portion and said outflow vane is defined by an arcuate slit in said outflow portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the valve assembly includes a disk-shaped element nominally disposed to prevent fluid flow in said tubular element where there is substantially no fluid pressure differential across said valve assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein the inflow vane is displaceable out of said control plane when a fluid pressure differential is developed in said tubular element based upon a higher pressure in said proximal end than in said distal end in excess of a first predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein the outflow vane is displaceable out of said control plane when a fluid pressure differential is developed in said tubular element based upon a higher pressure in said distal end than in said proximal end in excess of a second predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said inflow vane is substantially resistant to flow of fluid from said distal end to said proximal end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said outflow vane is substantially resistant to flow of fluid from said proximal end to said distal end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said catheter includes multiple lumens, at least one of said multiple lumen comprising said tubular element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said bidirectional valve assembly is generally planar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said tubular element defines a substantially circular cross-section interior region extending along said central axis and said assembly includes a flexible elliptical disk-shaped element which nominally lies in said control plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 21 wherein at least a part of the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element is affixed to the interior surface of said tubular element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
The catheter of claim 22 wherein said elliptical disk-shaped element defines two disk axes normal to said central axis, said two disk axes including a major axis and a minor axis which is normal to said major axis, the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element located about said minor axis being affixed to the interior of said tubular element along a first portion and a second portion of said periphery, a third portion of said periphery defining said flexible vane located about said major axis and being displaceable in a first direction generally along said central axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 23 wherein said flexible vane is defined by an accurate segment of said disk-shaped element located about said major axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 23 wherein said periphery first portion and said periphery second portion are generally positioned in opposition to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said valve assembly is entirely internal to said tubular element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said valve assembly is affixed to the interior of said tubular element at all points along the periphery of said disk-shaped element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 27 wherein said flexible vane is defined by an arcuate slit in said flow portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly includes a disk-shaped element nominally disposed to prevent fluid flow in said tubular element when there is substantially no fluid pressure differential across said valve assembly.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said catheter includes multiple lumens, at least one of said multiple lumens comprising said tubular element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said valve assembly is generally planar.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
178 words
A valved catheter comprising (a) an elongated, flexible tubular element extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted for flow of fluid between said proximal and said distal end, and (b) a valve assembly coupled to the interior of the tubular element, said assembly generally defining a nominal control plane which intersects said central axis at an oblique angle, said assembly having a flow portion nominally disposed to lie in said control plane whereby said assembly establishes a fluid seal across the interior of said tubular element at said control plane, said flow portion including a flexible vane having its periphery affixed at least in part to the interior of said tubular element and positioned between said intersection of said control plane with said central axis and said proximal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said proximal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively high fluid pressure at said distal end and a relatively low fluid pressure at said proximal end.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
178 words
A valved catheter comprising (a) an elongated, flexible tubular element extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and adapted for flow of fluid between said proximal and said distal end, and (b) a valve assembly coupled to the interior of the tubular element, said assembly generally defining a nominal control plane which intersects said central axis at an oblique angle, said assembly having a flow portion nominally disposed to lie in said control plane whereby said assembly establishes a fluid seal across the interior of said tubular element at said control plane, said flow portion including a flexible vane having its periphery affixed at least in part to the interior of said tubular element and positioned between said intersection of said control plane with said central axis and said proximal end and adapted to be deflected out of said control plane toward said proximal end only in response to the establishment of a relatively high fluid pressure at said distal end and a relatively low fluid pressure at said proximal end.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said tubular element defines a substantially circular cross-section interior region extending along said central axis and said assembly includes a flexible elliptical disk-shaped element which nominally lies in said control plane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 33 wherein at least a part of the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element is affixed to the interior surface of said tubular element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
97 words
The catheter of claim 34 wherein said elliptical disk-shaped element defines two disk axes normal to said central axis, said two disk axes including a major axis and a minor axis which is normal to said major axis, the periphery of said elliptical disk-shaped element located about said minor axis being affixed to the interior of said tubular element along a first portion and a second portion of said periphery, a third portion of said periphery defining said flexible vane located about said major axis and being displaceable in a first direction generally along said central axis.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 35 wherein said flexible vane is defined by an arcuate segment of said disk-shaped element located about said major axis.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 35 wherein said periphery first portion and said periphery second portion are generally positioned in opposition to each other.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said valve assembly is entirely internal to said tubular element.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said valve assembly is affixed to the interior of said tubular element at all points along the periphery of said disk-shaped element.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 39 wherein said flexible vane is defined by an arcuate slit in said flow portion.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein the valve assembly includes a disk-shaped element nominally disposed to prevent fluid flow in said tubular element when there is substantially no fluid pressure differential across said valve assembly.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said catheter includes multiple lumens, at least one of said multiple lumens comprising said tubular element.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein said valve assembly is generally planar.