Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An intravascular catheter for maintaining the patency of an arterial passageway for an extended period, comprising: a) an elongated catheter body having a first lumen which extends longitudinally therein over essentially the entire length thereof and a second, much shorter, inner lumen which extends longitudinally in a flexible distal portion of the catheter body between a proximal guidewire port and a distal guidewire port in the distal portion of the catheter body and which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein; b) an expandable cage formed of a plurality of strands which has a distal end with an opening therein and a proximal end which is secured to the distal end of the catheter body; c) a flexible tubular guide element extending through the expandable cage which has an inner lumen in communication with the second inner lumen within the catheter body and adapted to receive a guidewire therein; and d) a control wire disposed within the first lumen having a distal end secured to the distal end of the expandable cage and having means on the proximal end at the catheter body proximal end to longitudinally move the control wire so as to adjust the axial distance between the proximal and distal ends of the expandable cage and thereby adjust the radial dimension of the expandable cage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
An intravascular catheter for maintaining the patency of an arterial passageway for an extended period, comprising: a) an elongated catheter body having a first lumen which extends longitudinally therein over essentially the entire length thereof and a second, much shorter, inner lumen which extends longitudinally in a flexible distal portion of the catheter body between a proximal guidewire port and a distal guidewire port in the distal portion of the catheter body and which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein; b) an expandable cage formed of a plurality of strands which has a distal end with an opening therein and a proximal end which is secured to the distal end of the catheter body; c) a flexible tubular guide element extending through the expandable cage which has an inner lumen in communication with the second inner lumen within the catheter body and adapted to receive a guidewire therein; and d) a control wire disposed within the first lumen having a distal end secured to the distal end of the expandable cage and having means on the proximal end at the catheter body proximal end to longitudinally move the control wire so as to adjust the axial distance between the proximal and distal ends of the expandable cage and thereby adjust the radial dimension of the expandable cage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 1 wherein the second lumen is defined at least in part by a sidewall section of the elongated catheter body with the proximal guidewire port extending through the sidewall section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 2 wherein the sidewall section has a longitudinally extending slit therein which facilitates the rapid removal of the catheter from the guiding member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 3 wherein the slit extends distally from the proximal guidewire port to a location proximally adjacent the distal end of the second lumen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal guidewire port of the second inner lumen is at least about 15 cm but not more than 60 cm from the distal end of the expandable cage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 5 wherein the proximal guidewire port of the second inner lumen is about 20 cm to about 50 cm from the distal end of the expandable cage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 1 wherein a third inner lumen is provided in the elongated catheter body which extends from the proximal end of the catheter body to a location proximal to the proximal guidewire port of the second inner lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 7 wherein the third lumen has a stiffening element disposed therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 1 wherein the expandable cage is formed from about 4 to about 20 wires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 9 wherein the wires are disposed in a spiral like arrangement in a braided structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 9 wherein a substantial number of the wires forming the expandable cage are made of radiopaque material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 1 wherein the flexible tubular guide element is formed of plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide and polyfluoroethylene polymers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 11 wherein the radiopaque material is a platinum-nickel alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 11 wherein the radiopaque material is a platinum-rhodium-iridium alloy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 14 wherein the alloy contains about 52-65 wt % platinum, about 15-25 wt % rhodium and about 17-27 wt % iridium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 15 wherein the alloy contains 58 wt % of platinum, 20 wt % rhodium and 22 wt % of iridium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
187 words
An intravascular catheter for maintaining the patency of an arterial passageway for an extended period, comprising: a) an elongated catheter body having a first lumen which extends longitudinally therein over essentially the entire length thereof and a second, much shorter, inner lumen which extends longitudinally in a flexible distal portion of the catheter body between a proximal guidewire port and a distal guidewire port in the distal portion of the catheter body and which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein; b) an expandable cage formed of a plurality of strands formed of an alloy of platinum, rhodium and iridium, which has a distal end with an opening therein and a proximal end which is secured to the distal end of the catheter body; and c) a control wire disposed within the first lumen having a distal end secured to the distal end of the expandable cage and having means on the proximal end to longitudinally move the control wire so as to adjust the axial distance between the proximal and distal ends of the expandable cage and thereby adjust the radial dimension of the expandable cage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
187 words
An intravascular catheter for maintaining the patency of an arterial passageway for an extended period, comprising: a) an elongated catheter body having a first lumen which extends longitudinally therein over essentially the entire length thereof and a second, much shorter, inner lumen which extends longitudinally in a flexible distal portion of the catheter body between a proximal guidewire port and a distal guidewire port in the distal portion of the catheter body and which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein; b) an expandable cage formed of a plurality of strands formed of an alloy of platinum, rhodium and iridium, which has a distal end with an opening therein and a proximal end which is secured to the distal end of the catheter body; and c) a control wire disposed within the first lumen having a distal end secured to the distal end of the expandable cage and having means on the proximal end to longitudinally move the control wire so as to adjust the axial distance between the proximal and distal ends of the expandable cage and thereby adjust the radial dimension of the expandable cage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 17 the alloy contains about 52-65 wt % platinum, about 15-25 wt % rhodium and about 17-27 wt % iridium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular catheter of claim 17 wherein the alloy contains 58 wt % of platinum, 20 wt % rhodium and 22 wt % of iridium.