Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of inserting a guide wire into a patient comprising: providing structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient, and a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; positioning said piercing means proximate said tissue of said patient for insertion therethrough; inserting said elongated portion and said distal end of said body into said tissue of said patient to form an opening therethrough; removing said elongated portion from said distal end of said body; and urging said body of said guide wire into said opening a selected distance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of inserting a guide wire into a patient comprising: providing structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient, and a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; positioning said piercing means proximate said tissue of said patient for insertion therethrough; inserting said elongated portion and said distal end of said body into said tissue of said patient to form an opening therethrough; removing said elongated portion from said distal end of said body; and urging said body of said guide wire into said opening a selected distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient further includes dilation means associated with said body of said guide wire, and further comprising the step of inserting said dilation means through said opening to enlarge said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, and a transition section positioned between a first portion and a second portion of said body to facilitate positioning of said first portion away from said second portion, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and enlargement means associated with said body for dilating an opening made through said tissue by said piercing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, and a transition section positioned between a first portion and a second portion of said body to facilitate positioning of said first portion away from said second portion, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and enlargement means associated with said body for dilating an opening made through said tissue by said piercing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein said distal end of said body has an outer surface configured to taper toward said piercing means of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein the cross section of said body gradually increases to provide said enlargement means for dilating said opening, said increase in cross section occurring in a direction away from said transition section and along said length of said body toward said proximal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said body of said guide wire is a continuous length of material formed into a plurality of adjacent coils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 6 wherein the cross section of said body comprising said coils increases to provide said enlargement means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 7 further comprising a hollow channel of solid material connected to said coils at said proximate end, said hollow channel being shaped to provide increasing cross section in a direction away from said transition section and along said length of said body toward said proximal end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said enlargement means is a plurality of dilating structures positioned along said length of said proximal end of said body, said dilating structures each having a cross section, the cross section of each said dilating structures being larger than the next preceding dilating structure positioned proximate said transition section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said enlargement means is a hollow cylindrical structure sized to receive said body of said guide wire therethrough, said hollow cylindrical structure having a gradually increasing cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and a tube positioned proximate said distal end of said body, said tube having an opening therein and a bore sized and shaped to receive said elongated portion of said needle-like structure therethrough, said piercing means extending beyond said distal end of said body when said needle-like structure is inserted through said tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and a tube positioned proximate said distal end of said body, said tube having an opening therein and a bore sized and shaped to receive said elongated portion of said needle-like structure therethrough, said piercing means extending beyond said distal end of said body when said needle-like structure is inserted through said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 11 wherein said distal end of said body has an outer surface configured to taper toward said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 12 wherein said proximal end of said body has enlargement means associated therewith for dilating an opening made through said tissue by said piercing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and a transition section formed between a first portion and a second portion of said body, said first portion comprising a continuous length of material formed into a plurality of coils and said second portion being uncoiled, said second portion being positioned proximate said proximal end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said body being sized in length to extend from interior a patient to exterior said patient; and a transition section formed between a first portion and a second portion of said body, said first portion comprising a continuous length of material formed into a plurality of coils and said second portion being uncoiled, said second portion being positioned proximate said proximal end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 14 wherein said distal end of said body has an outer surface configured to taper toward said piercing means of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 15 further comprising enlargement means associated with said body for dilating an opening made through said tissue by said piercing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
145 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said distal end being configured to have a smaller cross section than the cross section of said elongated portion and being fixedly adaptable to enlarge in cross section to be positionable about said elongated portion; and a transition section between a first portion and a second portion of said body, said second portion of said body being positionable away from said first portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
145 words
Structure for insertion into the tissue of a patient comprising: needle-like structure having an elongated portion, said elongated portion having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end defining piercing means for inserting said needle-like structure into the tissue of a patient; a guide wire having a body, said body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen sized and shaped for positioning slidably and snugly about said exterior surface of said elongated portion of said needle-like structure, said distal end being configured to have a smaller cross section than the cross section of said elongated portion and being fixedly adaptable to enlarge in cross section to be positionable about said elongated portion; and a transition section between a first portion and a second portion of said body, said second portion of said body being positionable away from said first portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 17 wherein said elongated portion of said needle-like structure further includes a recessed portion extending from proximate said distal end of said elongated portion to proximate said proximal end of said elongated portion, said recessed portion being sized to receive a portion of said distal end of said guide wire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 18 wherein said distal end of said needle-like structure further comprises an edge contiguous with said recessed portion, said edge being arcuately formed between said recessed portion and said piercing means.