Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
For use in clearing an obstructed blood vessel, a cutting catheter comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical catheter body defining a forward end and an interior passage; an elongated flexible drive guide wire extending through said interior passage and having an interior end; a base support coupled to said interior end of said drive guide wire; a generally dome-shaped cutter head coupled to said base and defining a convex abrasive outer surface; and a safety guard fixably attached to said base support and extending across a portion of said abrasive outer surface, said drive guide wire, said base support, said cutter head and said safety guard rotating with respect to said catheter body as said drive guide wire is rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
For use in clearing an obstructed blood vessel, a cutting catheter comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical catheter body defining a forward end and an interior passage; an elongated flexible drive guide wire extending through said interior passage and having an interior end; a base support coupled to said interior end of said drive guide wire; a generally dome-shaped cutter head coupled to said base and defining a convex abrasive outer surface; and a safety guard fixably attached to said base support and extending across a portion of said abrasive outer surface, said drive guide wire, said base support, said cutter head and said safety guard rotating with respect to said catheter body as said drive guide wire is rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said safety guard defines an interior concave surface conforming generally to said convex abrasive outer surface of said cutter head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said safety guard defines an outer convex surface conforming generally to said convex abrasive surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cutter head defines a generally cylindrical surface portion and wherein said concave interior surface of said safety guard is correspondingly cylindrical and conforms thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said convex outer surface of said safety guard is curved outwardly from said concave interior surface such that said safety guard defines a generally D-shaped cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 5 wherein said safety guard is formed of a rigid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cutter head defines a recessed channel extending inwardly from said abrasive surface and a resilient element supported within said channel and wherein said safety guard overlies said resilient element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 7 wherein said safety guard is formed of a flexible material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said resilient element defines a generally cylindrical outer surface and wherein said concave interior of said safety guard is correspondingly cylindrical and conforms thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 9 wherein said convex outer surface of said safety guard defines a greater radius of curvature than said dome-shaped abrasive surface of said cutter head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said convex outer surface of said safety guard is curved outwardly from said concave interior surface such that said safety guard defines a generally D-shaped cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cutting catheter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said safety guard is generally cruciform-shaped.