Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration through tissue into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; applying sufficient tension to the guide member in order to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member; advancing a dilation member toward the body cavity over the guide member from outside the penetration and through the penetration while tension is being applied, wherein said dilation member enlarges the tissue penetration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration through tissue into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; applying sufficient tension to the guide member in order to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member; advancing a dilation member toward the body cavity over the guide member from outside the penetration and through the penetration while tension is being applied, wherein said dilation member enlarges the tissue penetration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein tension is applied by anchoring the distal end of the guide member and pulling outwardly on the proximal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the guide member is flexible and the proximal end is pulled with sufficient force to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member while the dilation member is being advanced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the guide member is rigid and the proximal end is pulled with sufficient force to inhibit deformation or detachment of a wall of the body cavity from the surround fascia as a result of advancing the dilation member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the guide member is flexible and tension is applied by passing a stiffening member through the guide member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the guide member is flexible and tension is applied by internal pressurization of the guide member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the dilation member is sized sufficiently large to form a penetration diameter in the range from 10 F to 30 F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the dilation member is in contact with the tissue as the dilation member is advanced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the dilation member has a tapered distal end to facilitate advancement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein tension is applied by internal pressurization of the guide member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration through tissue into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; positioning the guide member so that an anchor near its distal end is drawn against a surface of the body cavity near the penetration; and introducing a dilation member into the penetration toward the body cavity over a path defined by the guide member while said anchor is being drawn against the body cavity surface, wherein said dilation enlarges the tissue penetration.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration through tissue into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; positioning the guide member so that an anchor near its distal end is drawn against a surface of the body cavity near the penetration; and introducing a dilation member into the penetration toward the body cavity over a path defined by the guide member while said anchor is being drawn against the body cavity surface, wherein said dilation enlarges the tissue penetration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the elongate guide member is introduced with the anchor in a retracted configuration and is positioned by extending the anchor and thereafter drawing the extended anchor against the body cavity surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the guide member is positioned by pulling outward so that the anchor engages the body cavity surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the guide member is flexible and the anchor is drawn with sufficient force to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member while the dilation member is being advanced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the guide member is rigid and the anchor is drawn with sufficient force to inhibit deformation or detachment of a wall of the body cavity from the surround fascia as a result of advancing the dilation member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the dilation member is introduced directly over the guide member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guide member is introduced over a guide wire.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein at least a second dilation member having an increased diameter relative to the first dilation member is introduced over the path defined by the guide member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the dilation member is sized sufficiently large to form a penetration diameter in the range from 10 F to 30 F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the dilation member has a tapered distal end to facilitate advancement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the dilation member is in contact with the tissue as the dilation member is advanced.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; applying tension to the guide member in order to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member; advancing a dilation member over the guide member, from outside the penetration and through the penetration while tension is being applied, wherein the guide member has a tapered distal end to facilitate enlarging the penetration.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; applying tension to the guide member in order to inhibit buckling and misalignment of the guide member; advancing a dilation member over the guide member, from outside the penetration and through the penetration while tension is being applied, wherein the guide member has a tapered distal end to facilitate enlarging the penetration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein tension is applied by anchoring the distal end of the guide member and pulling outwardly on the proximal end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein tension is applied by passing a stiffening member through the guide member.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; positioning the guide member so that an anchor near its distal end is drawn against a surface of the body cavity near the penetration; and introducing a dilation member having a tapered distal end over a path defined by the guide member while said anchor is being drawn against the body cavity surface, whereby the tapered distal end facilitates advancement of the dilation member through the penetration.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for enlarging a percutaneous penetration into a body cavity, said method comprising: introducing an elongate guide member into the body cavity through a penetration; positioning the guide member so that an anchor near its distal end is drawn against a surface of the body cavity near the penetration; and introducing a dilation member having a tapered distal end over a path defined by the guide member while said anchor is being drawn against the body cavity surface, whereby the tapered distal end facilitates advancement of the dilation member through the penetration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein the elongate guide member is introduced with the anchor in a retracted configuration and is positioned by extending the anchor and thereafter drawing the extended anchor against the body cavity surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 26, wherein the guide member is positioned by pulling outward so that the anchor engages the body cavity surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein the dilation member is introduced directly over the guide member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein the guide member is introduced over a guide wire.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein at least a second dilation member having an increased diameter relative to the first dilation member is introduced over the path defined by the guide member.