Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: detecting axially spaced-apart markings on the device as such markings pass by a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; producing an electronic output signal in response to the passage of each marking; and totalizing the signals to produce a value which corresponds to the penetration distance in real time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: detecting axially spaced-apart markings on the device as such markings pass by a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; producing an electronic output signal in response to the passage of each marking; and totalizing the signals to produce a value which corresponds to the penetration distance in real time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the markings are optically detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the signals are totalized by determining the direction of movement of the device and incrementing or decrementing the accumulated distance based on the number of signals and direction of movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein the accumulated distance is set to zero when a location on the device reaches an anatomical landmark in the body lumen, whereby all subsequent real time distance values are relative to the landmark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 4, wherein the direction of movement is determined by comparing a preselected characteristic of successive marking which pass by the location and determining direction based on preselected patterns of said characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the markings are rings and the predetermined characteristic is ring width and the preselected pattern is alternate broad and narrow width, wherein the detection of successive rings having alternating widths indicates movement in a constant direction and the detection of successive rings having the same widths indicates a reversal of direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising displaying the real time value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 7, wherein the real time value is displayed on a screen which simultaneously displays a real time image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 8, further comprising recording the combined real time image and real time value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is advanced one or more times past a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is withdrawn one or more times past the fixed location; producing an electronic output signal for each of the measured distances; and continuously totalizing the signals corresponding to the distance advanced and the distance withdrawn to produce a value which corresponds to the net penetration distance in real time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is advanced one or more times past a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is withdrawn one or more times past the fixed location; producing an electronic output signal for each of the measured distances; and continuously totalizing the signals corresponding to the distance advanced and the distance withdrawn to produce a value which corresponds to the net penetration distance in real time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the distance traveled is measured by optical detection of axially spaced-apart markings on the device as such markings pass by the location which is fixed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is advanced one or more times past a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is withdrawn one or more times past the fixed location; continuously totalizing the distance advanced and the distance withdrawn to produce a value which corresponds to the net penetration distance in real time; and visually displaying in real time the value corresponding to the net penetration distance.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for monitoring penetration distance of an elongate device into a body lumen as the device is advanced and withdrawn within the lumen, said method comprising: measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is advanced one or more times past a location which is fixed relative to the lumen; measuring distance traveled as the elongate device is withdrawn one or more times past the fixed location; continuously totalizing the distance advanced and the distance withdrawn to produce a value which corresponds to the net penetration distance in real time; and visually displaying in real time the value corresponding to the net penetration distance.