Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon fixedly formed at the distal end thereof and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; and, f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon fixedly formed at the distal end thereof and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; and, f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said helical spring is affixed to said elastomeric tube under partial compression and is adapted to be further compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein expansion of said annular balloon causes compression of said helical spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal force maintains said balloon in a longitudinally stressed condition when deflated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 4 wherein said balloon is free from folds or wrinkles and provides a smooth external surface to the interior wall of a blood vessel when in the longitudinally stressed condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said balloon includes reinforcement fibers secured to said distal end of said catheter tube and to the distal end of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 1 including a sealing member connected to a proximal end of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
250 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, a short length relative to said tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon formed and fixedly secured at a distal end and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition; and g. expansion of said annular balloon causes compression of said helical spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, a short length relative to said tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon formed and fixedly secured at a distal end and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition; and g. expansion of said annular balloon causes compression of said helical spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 8 wherein said helical spring is affixed to said elastomeric tube under partial compression and is adapted to be further compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 8 wherein said longitudinal force maintains said balloon in a longitudinally stressed condition when deflated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein said balloon is free from folds or wrinkles and provides a smooth external surface to the interior wall of a blood vessel when in the longitudinally stressed condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 8 wherein said balloon includes reinforcement fibers secured to said distal end of said catheter tube and to the distal end of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 8 including a sealing member connected to a proximal end of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
263 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, a short length relative to said tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon fixedly formed at the distal end and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; and, f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition; and g. said spring is affixed to said elastomeric tube under partial compression and is adapted to be further compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
263 words
A balloon catheter having physical characteristics and size suitable for use in a medical procedure comprising: a. a catheter tube having a guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation passage; b. a hub, affixed to the proximal end of said catheter tube, including a guidewire entry port connected to said guidewire passage and an inflation/deflation port connected to said inflation/deflation passage and including in order a stop cylinder and a shock absorber in a hub chamber of said hub; c. an elastomeric tube, having a nominal diameter approximating said catheter tube, a short length relative to said tube, affixed to a distal end of said catheter tube in communication with said guidewire passage to facilitate passage of a guidewire therethrough; d. an annular balloon fixedly formed at the distal end and having a port in communication with said inflation/deflation passage of said catheter tube; e. a helical spring, coaxially positioned with respect to said elastomeric tube within the annulus of said balloon, affixed between said elastomeric tube and said catheter tube and adapted to be compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube induced by radial expansion of said balloon; and, f. said spring having a longitudinal force resisting compression for holding said elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to elastomeric tube at a predetermined length to maintain said annular balloon in a smooth tubular shape about said elastomeric tube when said balloon is in the deflated condition; and g. said spring is affixed to said elastomeric tube under partial compression and is adapted to be further compressed by longitudinal shortening of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein expansion of said annular balloon causes compression of said helical spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein said longitudinal force maintains said balloon in a longitudinally stressed condition when deflated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein said balloon is free from folds or wrinkles and provides a smooth external surface to the interior wall of a blood vessel when in the longitudinally stressed condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein said balloon includes reinforcement fibers secured to said distal end of said catheter tube and to the distal end of said elastomeric tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 14 including a sealing member connected to a proximal end of said elastomeric tube.