Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, helically coiled portion, the helically coiled portion being inflatable from a deflated, furled configuration having a relatively smaller inner and outer diameter to an inflated, unfurled configuration having a relatively larger inner and outer diameter and defining a generally open, central lumen, the balloon further including means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, helically coiled portion, the helically coiled portion being inflatable from a deflated, furled configuration having a relatively smaller inner and outer diameter to an inflated, unfurled configuration having a relatively larger inner and outer diameter and defining a generally open, central lumen, the balloon further including means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein at least some of the successive turns of the coiled portion abut one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the means for securing comprises a flexible skin attached to at least some of the turns of the coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 further including advancing means for selectively advancing and retracting the coiled portion of the balloon in a bodily passageway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The balloon catheter of claim 4 wherein the advancing means comprises a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The balloon catheter of claim 5 wherein the shaft comprises a guide wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The balloon catheter of claim 6 wherein the shaft comprises a catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The balloon catheter of claim 5 wherein the balloon is collapsable and capable of being furled closely about the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising: an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled portion defining a generally open, central lumen; means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another; advancing means for selectively advancing and retracting the coiled portion of the balloon in a bodily passageway, the advancing means comprising a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to the shaft; and a pushing catheter advancable over the shaft, the pushing catheter having a distal end for pushing against the balloon when it is furled about the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising: an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled portion defining a generally open, central lumen; means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another; advancing means for selectively advancing and retracting the coiled portion of the balloon in a bodily passageway, the advancing means comprising a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to the shaft; and a pushing catheter advancable over the shaft, the pushing catheter having a distal end for pushing against the balloon when it is furled about the shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled portion defining a generally open, central lumen, means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another and advancing means for selectively advancing and retracting the coiled portion of the balloon in a bodily passageway, the advancing means comprising a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to the shaft, the attachment means comprising straps having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A helical balloon catheter comprising an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled portion defining a generally open, central lumen, means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another and advancing means for selectively advancing and retracting the coiled portion of the balloon in a bodily passageway, the advancing means comprising a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to the shaft, the attachment means comprising straps having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The balloon catheter of claim 10 wherein the distal portions of the straps are attached to the shaft and the intermediate portions of the straps are attached to the coiled portion of the balloon catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The balloon catheter of claim 10 wherein the intermediate portions of the straps are attached to the coiled portion of the balloon, and wherein the shaft comprises a catheter having a distal end and a lumen through which the distal portions of the straps may be threaded so that the catheter can be advanced with its distal end engaging the straps near their intermediate portions to advance the balloon catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The balloon catheter of claim 10 wherein the distal portions of the straps are attached to the shaft, and the intermediate portions of the straps are attached to the coiled portion of the balloon, and further comprising a pushability catheter advancable over the shaft and having a distal end so that the pushability catheter can be advanced over the shaft with its distal end engaging the straps near their distal ends to advance the balloon catheter
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The balloon catheter of claim 13 further comprising a stop carried on the shaft so that the distal end of the pushability catheter engages the stop rather than the straps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The balloon catheter of claim 2 wherein one of the turns of the coiled portion is spaced from a successive turn to form a gap in the coiled portion, permitting perfusion of a branch artery when the balloon is inflated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 including two such inflatable tubes, their coiled portions being coiled in a double helical configuration and being in fluid communication with one another at their distal ends.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The balloon catheter of claim 16 wherein the proximal portion of one of the tubes is attachable to an inflation device and the proximal portion of the other tube includes a stopcock that is openable to allow purging of the tube and closable to allow the balloon to be inflated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 wherein the inflatable tube includes first and second ends and is folded upon itself intermediate its ends, the coiled portion thereby comprising a double helical coil adjacent the fold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The balloon catheter of claim 18 wherein the first end of the tube is attachable to an inflation device and the second end of the tube includes a stopcock that is openable to allow purging of the tube and closable to allow the balloon to be inflated
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The balloon catheter of claim 1 further comprising a shaft disposed within the lumen, the shaft having a surface that is attached to the turns of the coiled portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
A balloon catheter comprising: an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled, generally cylindrical portion defining an open, central lumen, at least some of the successive turns of the coiled portion abutting one another; means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another including a flexible skin attached to at least some of the turns of the coil; and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to a guide wire, comprising straps having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions, the distal portions of the straps being attached to the guide wire and the intermediate portions of the straps being attached to the coiled portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
A balloon catheter comprising: an inflatable tube having a proximal, generally straight portion and a distal, coiled, generally cylindrical portion defining an open, central lumen, at least some of the successive turns of the coiled portion abutting one another; means for securing turns of the coiled portion with respect to one another including a flexible skin attached to at least some of the turns of the coil; and attachment means for attaching the coiled portion of the balloon to a guide wire, comprising straps having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions, the distal portions of the straps being attached to the guide wire and the intermediate portions of the straps being attached to the coiled portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A balloon catheter comprising a distal, helically coiled, generally cylindrical inflatable sheath portion defining a proximally and distally open lumen, the helically coiled portion being inflatable from a deflated, furled configuration having a relatively smaller inner and outer diameter to an inflated, unfurled configuration having a relatively larger inner and outer diameter, the balloon catheter further including an inflation tube extending proximally from the inflatable sheath portion, and means for advancing and retracting the inflatable sheath portion through a passageway.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
A balloon catheter comprising a distal, helically coiled, generally cylindrical inflatable sheath portion defining a proximally and distally open lumen, the helically coiled portion being inflatable from a deflated, furled configuration having a relatively smaller inner and outer diameter to an inflated, unfurled configuration having a relatively larger inner and outer diameter, the balloon catheter further including an inflation tube extending proximally from the inflatable sheath portion, and means for advancing and retracting the inflatable sheath portion through a passageway.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The balloon catheter of claim 22 wherein the means for advancing and retracting the sheath comprises a shaft attached to the inflatable sheath.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The balloon catheter of claim 22 wherein the advancing and retracting means comprises a generally central shaft and attachment means for attaching the inflatable sheath portion of the balloon to the shaft.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The balloon catheter of claim 24 wherein the shaft comprises a guide wire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The balloon catheter of claim 24 wherein the shaft comprises a catheter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
78 words
A balloon catheter comprising a distal, generally cylindrical inflatable sheath portion defining a proximally and distally open lumen, an inflation tube extending proximally from the inflatable sheath portion, and means for advancing and retracting the inflatable sheath portion through a passageway, such means comprising a plurality of straps having proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, the intermediate portions of the straps being attached to the inflatable sheath, and the distal portions of the straps being attached to the shaft.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
78 words
A balloon catheter comprising a distal, generally cylindrical inflatable sheath portion defining a proximally and distally open lumen, an inflation tube extending proximally from the inflatable sheath portion, and means for advancing and retracting the inflatable sheath portion through a passageway, such means comprising a plurality of straps having proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, the intermediate portions of the straps being attached to the inflatable sheath, and the distal portions of the straps being attached to the shaft.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The balloon catheter of claim 27 further comprising a pushing catheter advancable over the shaft, the pushing catheter having a distal end for pushing against the balloon when it is furled about the shaft.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
The balloon catheter of claim 27 wherein the intermediate portions of the straps are attached to the inflatable sheath portion of the balloon, and wherein the shaft comprises a catheter having a distal end and a lumen through which the distal portions of the straps may be threaded so that the catheter can be advanced with its distal end engaging the straps near their intermediate portions to advance the balloon catheter.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The balloon catheter of claim 22 wherein the internal diameter of the open lumen through the inflatable sheath portion is at least about one third of the outer diameter of the inflatable sheath portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The balloon catheter of claim 22 wherein the internal diameter of the open lumen through the inflatable sheath portion is at least about one half of the outer diameter of the inflatable sheath portion.