Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Catheter apparatus having at least outer and inner congruent tubular structures and a support structure mounted between said tubular structures, said support structure comprising a metal braid, the improvement comprising: a. a step in the catheter apparatus for reducing the diameter of the catheter apparatus for a predetermined stepped region between the step and one end of the catheter apparatus; and b. restraining apparatus having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said outer congruent tubular structure mounted on at least a portion of the stepped region, said restraining apparatus and said stepped region defining a male portion wherein said male portion is adapted to be selectively joined in a lap-joint type connection to a further apparatus, wherein said further apparatus covers said restraining apparatus when connected thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Catheter apparatus having at least outer and inner congruent tubular structures and a support structure mounted between said tubular structures, said support structure comprising a metal braid, the improvement comprising: a. a step in the catheter apparatus for reducing the diameter of the catheter apparatus for a predetermined stepped region between the step and one end of the catheter apparatus; and b. restraining apparatus having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said outer congruent tubular structure mounted on at least a portion of the stepped region, said restraining apparatus and said stepped region defining a male portion wherein said male portion is adapted to be selectively joined in a lap-joint type connection to a further apparatus, wherein said further apparatus covers said restraining apparatus when connected thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the restraining apparatus comprises a sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the sleeve has a length at most equal to the length of the stepped region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the restraining apparatus comprises a heat shrink polyester.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the restraining apparatus comprises a thin-walled heat shrink polyester having a thickness of approximately 0.0005 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the metal braid comprises high tensile stainless steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
Catheter apparatus having at least outer and inner congruent tubular structures and a support structure mounted between said tubular structures, said support structure comprising a metal braid, the method of making an improved joinder apparatus comprising the steps of: a. reducing the diameter of the catheter apparatus for a predetermined length at least at one end of the catheter apparatus, and b. mounting a support structure restraining device having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said outer congruent tubular structure on at least a portion of the reduced diameter length, said support structure restraining device and said reduced diameter length defining a male portion wherein said male portion is adapted to be selectively joined in a lap-joint type connection to a further apparatus with said further apparatus covering said support structure restraining apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
Catheter apparatus having at least outer and inner congruent tubular structures and a support structure mounted between said tubular structures, said support structure comprising a metal braid, the method of making an improved joinder apparatus comprising the steps of: a. reducing the diameter of the catheter apparatus for a predetermined length at least at one end of the catheter apparatus, and b. mounting a support structure restraining device having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said outer congruent tubular structure on at least a portion of the reduced diameter length, said support structure restraining device and said reduced diameter length defining a male portion wherein said male portion is adapted to be selectively joined in a lap-joint type connection to a further apparatus with said further apparatus covering said support structure restraining apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7 in which the step of reducing the catheter apparatus for a predetermined length includes abrading the catheter apparatus to form a step down to a reduced diameter at least equal to the diameter of the support structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 or 8 in which the mounting step includes mounting a tubular sleeve on at least a portion of the reduced diameter length.