Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A readily exchangeable dilatation catheter suitable for performing angioplasty procedures within a patient's artery which permits the exchange of a guidewire during an angioplasty procedure without loss of access to the location of the distal portion of the catheter within the patient's artery, comprising: a) an elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the shaft, a proximal guidewire port spaced from the proximal and distal ends of the shaft, an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to a location in a distal section of the catheter shaft, a main guidewire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the distal guidewire port and a guidewire lumen extension which has a distal end intersecting with and in fluid communication with the main guidewire lumin, which extends proximally away from the intersection with the main guidewire lumen to the proximal guidewire port and which is offset from a coextensive portion of the main guidewire lumen; b) an inflatable member on the distal section of the catheter shaft distal to the intersection between the main guidewire lumen and the guidewire lumen extension which has a interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and c) an adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft having a first arm with an inner lumen which is adapted to direct inflation fluid into the inflation lumen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A readily exchangeable dilatation catheter suitable for performing angioplasty procedures within a patient's artery which permits the exchange of a guidewire during an angioplasty procedure without loss of access to the location of the distal portion of the catheter within the patient's artery, comprising: a) an elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the shaft, a proximal guidewire port spaced from the proximal and distal ends of the shaft, an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to a location in a distal section of the catheter shaft, a main guidewire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the distal guidewire port and a guidewire lumen extension which has a distal end intersecting with and in fluid communication with the main guidewire lumin, which extends proximally away from the intersection with the main guidewire lumen to the proximal guidewire port and which is offset from a coextensive portion of the main guidewire lumen; b) an inflatable member on the distal section of the catheter shaft distal to the intersection between the main guidewire lumen and the guidewire lumen extension which has a interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; and c) an adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft having a first arm with an inner lumen which is adapted to direct inflation fluid into the inflation lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter shaft is provided with a slit extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to a location where the guidewire lumen extension intersects the main guidewire lumen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter shaft is provided with a slit extending from the proximal guidewire port to a location proximal to the inflatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft has a second arm with an inner lumen which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein and which is in communication with the main guidewire receiving lumen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 4 wherein the second arm of the adapter has a slit continuous with the slit in the proximal section of the shaft to facilitate the separation therefrom of a guidewire disposed within the inner lumen of the second arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal guidewire port is spaced a short distance from the distal end of the catheter shaft proximal to the inflatable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal guidewire port is spaced at least about 10 cm from the distal end of the catheter shaft and a substantial distance from the proximal end of the catheter shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the guidewire lumen extension has a distal portion which is inclined toward and intersects with the main guidewire lumen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the intersection of the main guidewire receiving lumen and the guidewire extension lumen is provided with a truncated conical support member with a small diameter end thereof extended in the distal direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 9 wherein the truncated conical support member has a flexible, high strength wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 9 wherein the truncated conical support member is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide or a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the inflatable member has an elongated waist which extends proximally beyond the intersection of the main guidewire lumen and the guidewire extension lumen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dilatation catheter of claim 12 wherein the elongated waist forms at least in part the guidewire extension lumen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
237 words
A readily exchangeable intravascular catheter suitable for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure within a patient's body lumen which permits the exchange of a guidewire during the procedure without loss of access to the location of the distal portion of the catheter within the patient's body, comprising: a) an elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, a first port in the distal end of the catheter shaft, a second port spaced between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter shaft, a first lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to a location in a distal section of the catheter shaft and a second lumen adapted to slidably receive a guidewire extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the first port in the distal end of the catheter shaft and a guidewire lumen extension in the distal portion of the catheter shaft which intersects and is in communication with the second lumen, which extends proximally away from the second lumen to the second port and which is offset from a coextensive portion of the second lumen; b) means on the distal section of the catheter shaft for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure which is in communication with the first lumen; and c) a slit in the catheter shaft extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the intersection of the guidewire lumen extension and the second lumen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
237 words
A readily exchangeable intravascular catheter suitable for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure within a patient's body lumen which permits the exchange of a guidewire during the procedure without loss of access to the location of the distal portion of the catheter within the patient's body, comprising: a) an elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, a first port in the distal end of the catheter shaft, a second port spaced between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter shaft, a first lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to a location in a distal section of the catheter shaft and a second lumen adapted to slidably receive a guidewire extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the first port in the distal end of the catheter shaft and a guidewire lumen extension in the distal portion of the catheter shaft which intersects and is in communication with the second lumen, which extends proximally away from the second lumen to the second port and which is offset from a coextensive portion of the second lumen; b) means on the distal section of the catheter shaft for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure which is in communication with the first lumen; and c) a slit in the catheter shaft extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the intersection of the guidewire lumen extension and the second lumen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The readily exchangeable intravascular catheter of claim 14 including a slit in the catheter shaft extending from the second port to a location proximal to the means for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The readily exchangeable intravascular catheter of claim 14 including an adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft having a first arm with an inner lumen which is in communication with the first lumen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The readily exchangeable intravascular catheter of claim 16 wherein the adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft has a second arm with an inner lumen which is adapted to receive a guidewire therein and which is in communication with the second lumen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The readily exchangeable intravascular catheter of claim 16 wherein the second arm of the adapter has a slit continuous with the slit in the proximal section of the shaft to facilitate the separation therefrom of a guidewire disposed within the inner lumen of the second arm.