Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plaque from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including; a hollow wire within the catheter extending the length thereof and providing a first channel; an inflatable distal balloon secured to the outer end of the guide wire and adapted to be inflated by fluid passing through the first channel; tube means surrounding the guide wire and extending the length of the catheter and having a second channel extending a substantial length thereof; a drive cable surrounding the tube means; a section of the drive cable being radially expandable; the outer surface of said drive cable section being roughened to form a milling surface; said second channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid passing through said second channel; sheath means surrounding the drive cable and extending the length of the catheter and having a third channel extending a substantial length thereof; an inflatable proximal balloon surrounding said sheath means at the outer end thereof connected to the third channel and adapted to be inflated by fluid passing therethrough; means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plague on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plague; the space between the sheath means and drive cable providing a fourth channel to withdraw the free plague particles, and means to selectively supply fluid pressure to said first, second and third channels to inflate the distal balloon, expand the cable section and inflate the proximal balloon respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plaque from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including; a hollow wire within the catheter extending the length thereof and providing a first channel; an inflatable distal balloon secured to the outer end of the guide wire and adapted to be inflated by fluid passing through the first channel; tube means surrounding the guide wire and extending the length of the catheter and having a second channel extending a substantial length thereof; a drive cable surrounding the tube means; a section of the drive cable being radially expandable; the outer surface of said drive cable section being roughened to form a milling surface; said second channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid passing through said second channel; sheath means surrounding the drive cable and extending the length of the catheter and having a third channel extending a substantial length thereof; an inflatable proximal balloon surrounding said sheath means at the outer end thereof connected to the third channel and adapted to be inflated by fluid passing therethrough; means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plague on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plague; the space between the sheath means and drive cable providing a fourth channel to withdraw the free plague particles, and means to selectively supply fluid pressure to said first, second and third channels to inflate the distal balloon, expand the cable section and inflate the proximal balloon respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including a fluid channel between the outer surface of the guide wire and the tube means whereby a flushing fluid may be passed to flush plague particles through the fourth channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 including an abrading tip secured to the outer end of the drive cable adapted to be rotated to facilitate the insertion of the catheter to the plague deposit section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which the drive cable is axially movable within the sheath means whereby the expandable section of the drive cable is within the sheath during insertion of the catheter in the blood vessel and the sheath may be partially withdrawn to expose the expandable milling section to the plaque area of the blood vessel wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plaque from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including; tube means extending the length of the catheter and having a channel extending a substantial length thereof; a flexible drive cable surrounding the tube means; a section of the drive cable being radially expandable; the outer surface of said drive cable section being roughened to form a milling surface; said channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid under pressure passing through said channel; and means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plaque on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plague.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plaque from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including; tube means extending the length of the catheter and having a channel extending a substantial length thereof; a flexible drive cable surrounding the tube means; a section of the drive cable being radially expandable; the outer surface of said drive cable section being roughened to form a milling surface; said channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid under pressure passing through said channel; and means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plaque on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plague.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5 including a balloon surrounding the tube means and contacting the inner surface of the said roughened drive cable section; said balloon being in contact with the said channel whereby fluid pressure in the channel will expand the balloon to selectively expand the said drive cable section whereby the section may be gradually expanded as the plague deposit is milled away.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which the said tube channel has radially ports interconnecting the channel and the said balloon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
269 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plague from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including: a hollow wire within the catheter extending the length thereof and providing a first channel; an inflatable distal balloon secured to the outer end of the guide wire and adapted to be inflated by fluid under pressure in the first channel; tube means surrounding the guide wire and extending the length of the catheter and having a second channel extending a substantial length thereof; a drive cable surrounding the tube means; the outer surface of said drive cable having a section being roughened to form a milling surface; said second channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid passing through said second channel; sheath means surrounding the drive cable and extending the length of the catheter and having a third channel extending a substantial length thereof; an inflatable proximal balloon surrounding said sheath means at the outer end thereof connected to the third channel and adapted to be inflated by fluid under pressure in said third channel; means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plague on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plaque; means to selectively supply fluid pressure to said first, second and third channels to inflate the distal balloon, expand the cable section and inflate the proximal balloon respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
269 words
An angioplasty apparatus for removing deposits of atheromatic plague from the interior walls of blood vessels comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having an outer end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel to the location of a plague deposit section of the vessel including: a hollow wire within the catheter extending the length thereof and providing a first channel; an inflatable distal balloon secured to the outer end of the guide wire and adapted to be inflated by fluid under pressure in the first channel; tube means surrounding the guide wire and extending the length of the catheter and having a second channel extending a substantial length thereof; a drive cable surrounding the tube means; the outer surface of said drive cable having a section being roughened to form a milling surface; said second channel terminating at the said drive cable section whereby the section may be radially expandable by fluid passing through said second channel; sheath means surrounding the drive cable and extending the length of the catheter and having a third channel extending a substantial length thereof; an inflatable proximal balloon surrounding said sheath means at the outer end thereof connected to the third channel and adapted to be inflated by fluid under pressure in said third channel; means connected to the drive cable to cause rotation thereof whereby the expanded section will mill the atheromatic plague on the interior blood vessel wall producing free particles of plaque; means to selectively supply fluid pressure to said first, second and third channels to inflate the distal balloon, expand the cable section and inflate the proximal balloon respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 8 whereby said outer sheath, drive cable and guide wire are relatively axially movable whereby axial movement will permit the distal balloon to be located beyond a plaque deposit, the proximal balloon forward of a plaque deposit and the roughened cable section within the plaque deposit.