Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A connector for sealing a balloon catheter on a guide wire and for stripping the catheter from the guide wire within the connector, said connector comprising a main body having a central bore with an inner wall extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal and a proximal end; said catheter disposed in said central bore and having an inner diameter and a distal and a proximal end and extending mainly in the longitudinal direction when it is mounted on the guide wire; said guide wire having an outer diameter and a distal and a proximal end and extending mainly in the longitudinal direction; said connector further comprising: a stripping port opening into the main body; cutting means mounted within the central bore of the main body for slitting the catheter as the catheter slides in the proximal direction along the guide wire within the main body; and sealing means for sealing the stripping port opening when the connector is sealed, and for providing an opening through which the split catheter is drawn when the catheter is being slit by the cutting means when the catheter is moved proximally along the guide wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A connector for sealing a balloon catheter on a guide wire and for stripping the catheter from the guide wire within the connector, said connector comprising a main body having a central bore with an inner wall extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal and a proximal end; said catheter disposed in said central bore and having an inner diameter and a distal and a proximal end and extending mainly in the longitudinal direction when it is mounted on the guide wire; said guide wire having an outer diameter and a distal and a proximal end and extending mainly in the longitudinal direction; said connector further comprising: a stripping port opening into the main body; cutting means mounted within the central bore of the main body for slitting the catheter as the catheter slides in the proximal direction along the guide wire within the main body; and sealing means for sealing the stripping port opening when the connector is sealed, and for providing an opening through which the split catheter is drawn when the catheter is being slit by the cutting means when the catheter is moved proximally along the guide wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the cutting means includes: a mounting tube that extends in the longitudinal direction and that encircles the guide wire; and a blade secured to and extending radially from the mounting tube with a cutting edge facing the distal end of said catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as defined in claim 2, in which the mounting tube has a distal portion that extends in the distal direction farther, than the blade, whereby the outer diameter of the mounting tube is less than the inner diameter of the proximal end of the catheter to permit the proximal end of the catheter to slide freely over the guide tube and against the cutting edge of the blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 2, in which the blade is located substantially adjacent to the stripping port opening of the connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as defined in claim 2, further including stabilizing means connected to the mounting tube and in contact with the inner wall of the central bore of the connector for preventing longitudinal, transverse, and rotational movement of the blade relative to the stripping port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 5, in which the stabilizing means comprises at least one mainly planar fin extending radially from the mounting tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as defined in claim 5, in which the stabilizing means comprises a unitary body shaped substantially as an arc section of a cylinder with an inner surface joined with the mounting tube and with an outer surface in contact with the inner wall of the central bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 2, in which the blade extends diametrically opposite the stripping port relative to the guide wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which the stripping port includes a mainly cylindrical access port that protrudes from the connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 9, in which the sealing means comprises a removable cap that screws onto the access port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method for rapidly removing a catheter from a guide wire positioned within a patient, said method comprising the steps of: providing a catheter and guide wire combination including the connector of claim 1; positioning said catheter and guide wire combination within a patient's body; and releasing the sealing means of said connector and drawing said catheter through said stripping port, whereby said catheter is slit by said cutting means and proximally removed along said guide wire.