Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An atherectomy catheter for the removal of atherosclerosis from within the blood vessels of a patient, said catheter comprising: a substantially hollow catheter body mounted on a guide wire, said guide wire and said catheter body being insertable into a vessel from which atherosclerosis is to be removed; said body comprising a substantially ridged tip and a flexible segment remote from said tip, said flexible segment being attached to said tip such that a circumferential gap is provided in said body between said tip and said flexible segment; and a cutting means operatively disposed in said circumferential gap such that manipulation of said body may cause said cutting means to remove atherosclerosis from the interior of the vessel and to direct the removed atherosclerosis into said hollow catheter body for disposal wherein said guide wire extends through said tip and said segment, and wherein said segment is attached to said tip by internal brace means, said cutting means being mounted to said tip by said internal brace means such that a cutting edge is disposed toward said flexible segment and is spaced apart therefrom in said circumferential gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An atherectomy catheter for the removal of atherosclerosis from within the blood vessels of a patient, said catheter comprising: a substantially hollow catheter body mounted on a guide wire, said guide wire and said catheter body being insertable into a vessel from which atherosclerosis is to be removed; said body comprising a substantially ridged tip and a flexible segment remote from said tip, said flexible segment being attached to said tip such that a circumferential gap is provided in said body between said tip and said flexible segment; and a cutting means operatively disposed in said circumferential gap such that manipulation of said body may cause said cutting means to remove atherosclerosis from the interior of the vessel and to direct the removed atherosclerosis into said hollow catheter body for disposal wherein said guide wire extends through said tip and said segment, and wherein said segment is attached to said tip by internal brace means, said cutting means being mounted to said tip by said internal brace means such that a cutting edge is disposed toward said flexible segment and is spaced apart therefrom in said circumferential gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 1 further comprising means for applying a negative pressure to said hollow catheter body whereby the atherosclerosis will be drawn toward and at least partially into said circumferential gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 1 wherein one of said tip and said segment is movable with respect to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 3 wherein said segment is movable with respect to said tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 3 wherein said cutting means is mounted to said segment such that a cutting edge is disposed toward said tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 3 wherein said tip is movable with respect to said segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 6 wherein said cutting means is mounted to said tip such that a cutting edge is disposed toward said segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 7 further comprising at least one secondary cutter mounted inside said hollow catheter body flexible segment such that atherosclerosis removed by said cutting means will be subdivided as it passes across said secondary cutter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 3 further comprising means for applying a negative pressure to said hollow catheter body whereby the atherosclerosis will be drawn toward and at least partially into said circumferential gap.