Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A catheter for use in an angioplasty system, said catheter comprising: a tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and a distal end portion having a plurality of holes in and along opposite sides of said distal end portion; each hole having an elongate shape and a center axially aligned with the center of a hole on the opposite side of said distal end portion, said centers of said holes being located on an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said catheter; each elongate hole being inclined not less than 30 degrees and not more than 60 degrees upwardly or downwardly relative to said imaginary line; and each elongate hole on one side of said catheter being inclined upwardly or downwardly relative to said imaginary line and each opposite side hole on the other side of said catheter being inclined to the imaginary line at an angle different than the aligned hole on the one side so that each pair of opposed holes form an X.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A catheter for use in an angioplasty system, said catheter comprising: a tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and a distal end portion having a plurality of holes in and along opposite sides of said distal end portion; each hole having an elongate shape and a center axially aligned with the center of a hole on the opposite side of said distal end portion, said centers of said holes being located on an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said catheter; each elongate hole being inclined not less than 30 degrees and not more than 60 degrees upwardly or downwardly relative to said imaginary line; and each elongate hole on one side of said catheter being inclined upwardly or downwardly relative to said imaginary line and each opposite side hole on the other side of said catheter being inclined to the imaginary line at an angle different than the aligned hole on the one side so that each pair of opposed holes form an X.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said holes are elongate slots with rounded ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein each hole is inclined approximately 45 degrees to said imaginary line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distance between the centers of two adjacent holes is between 0.1 and 0.2 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distance between the center of two adjacent holes is approximately 0.15 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter has a tubular braided body and a molded or extruded elastomeric tip fused thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein said holes are located in said tubular braided body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein said holes are located in said extruded elastomeric tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein said holes are located in said tubular braided body and in said extruded elastomeric tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a distal end portion having holes located in said distal end portion in and along opposite sides of said distal end portion; each hole having an elongate shape, a center axially aligned with the center of a hole on the opposite side of said distal end portion with the centers of said holes being location on an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and being inclined upwardly or downwardly relative to an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and the holes on one side being inclined at a different angle to the imaginary line than the holes on the other side such that opposed holes form an X for minimizing kinking of said tubular body when it is bent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A catheter comprising: a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a distal end portion having holes located in said distal end portion in and along opposite sides of said distal end portion; each hole having an elongate shape, a center axially aligned with the center of a hole on the opposite side of said distal end portion with the centers of said holes being location on an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and being inclined upwardly or downwardly relative to an imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and the holes on one side being inclined at a different angle to the imaginary line than the holes on the other side such that opposed holes form an X for minimizing kinking of said tubular body when it is bent.