Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the blood vessel at a first location with a sensor; (b) sensing the blood vessel at a second location with said sensor, the blood vessel extending between the first and second locations; (c) placing a cannula proximate the blood vessel of the patient at a third location, for insertion into the blood vessel, the third location being proximate at least one of the first and second locations, and aligned with the first and second locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the blood vessel at a first location with a sensor; (b) sensing the blood vessel at a second location with said sensor, the blood vessel extending between the first and second locations; (c) placing a cannula proximate the blood vessel of the patient at a third location, for insertion into the blood vessel, the third location being proximate at least one of the first and second locations, and aligned with the first and second locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 1, the sensor comprising an ultrasonic probe.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the blood vessel at a first location with a first sensor extending through a first sensor guide to a first end; (b) sensing the blood vessel at a second location with a second sensor extending through a second sensor guide to a second end; (c) placing a cannula proximate the blood vessel of the patient at a third location, for insertion into the blood vessel, the third location being proximate at least one of the first and second locations, and aligned with the first and second locations.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the blood vessel at a first location with a first sensor extending through a first sensor guide to a first end; (b) sensing the blood vessel at a second location with a second sensor extending through a second sensor guide to a second end; (c) placing a cannula proximate the blood vessel of the patient at a third location, for insertion into the blood vessel, the third location being proximate at least one of the first and second locations, and aligned with the first and second locations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as in claim 3, the first sensor providing a first output signal, the second sensor providing a second output signal, and the first output signal being distinguishable from the second output signal, the method including the step prior to step (c) of, (d) concurrently sensing the blood vessel at both the first and second locations by concurrently observing sensing indications at both of the first and second output signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as in claim 3, the first and second output signals being audible, the pitch of the first output signal being audibly distinguishable by the human ear from the pitch of the second output signal, the method including the step, prior to step (c), of (d) concurrently sensing the blood vessel at both the first and second locations by concurrently observing sensing indications at both of the first and second output signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 3, the first and second output signals being visible, the first output signal being visually distinguishable, by the human eye, from the second output signal, the method including the step, prior to step, (c) of (d) concurrently sensing the blood vessel at both the first and second locations by, concurrently observing sensing indications at both of the first and second output signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 3, the first and second sensors comprising ultrasonic probes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of the patient in the vicinity of the blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the cannulation device to the patient, a rotating assembly mounted for rotation with respect to the mounting assembly, on an axis transverse to the skin of the patient to which the cannulation device is proximate, a guide housing mounted for rotation with the rotating assembly and for traverse across the rotating assembly, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second cannula guide extending through the guide housing for inserting a cannula through the guide housing to a second end of the second cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient; (b) inserting a sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of the patient in the vicinity of the blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the cannulation device to the patient, a rotating assembly mounted for rotation with respect to the mounting assembly, on an axis transverse to the skin of the patient to which the cannulation device is proximate, a guide housing mounted for rotation with the rotating assembly and for traverse across the rotating assembly, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second cannula guide extending through the guide housing for inserting a cannula through the guide housing to a second end of the second cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient; (b) inserting a sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 8, the method including the step of (d) rotating the rotating assembly such that the first and second ends define a line aligned with the blood vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
A method as in claim 8, the sensor comprising a first sensor, the cannulation device including a third sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends, the second end of the second cannula guide being adjacent at least one of the first and third ends, the method including the steps of (d) inserting a second sensor into the third sensor guide to the third end proximate the skin of the patient; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the second sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be concurrently sensed by both of the first and second sensors, the first, second, and third ends all thus being aligned with each other and with the blood vessel, whereby locating the first and second sensors in locations to sense the blood vessel concurrently locates the cannula over the blood vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
A method as in claim 8, the cannulation device including a third sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends, the second end of the second cannula guide being adjacent at least one of the first and third ends, the method including the steps of (d) removing the sensor from the first sensor guide and inserting the sensor into the third sensor guide to the third end; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be sensed by the sensor in both of the first and third sensor guides without moving the guide housing, whereby the first, second, and third ends are aligned with each other and with the blood vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 8, the sensor comprising an ultrasonic probe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 10, the first and second sensors comprising ultrasonic probes.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of a patient in the vicinity of a blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a guide housing, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a second end of the second sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a third cannula guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient, for inserting a cannula through the guide housing, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends; (b) inserting a first sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the first sensor senses the blood vessel; (d) inserting a second sensor into the second sensor guide to the second end proximate the skin of the patient; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the second sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be concurrently sensed by both of the first and second sensors, such that the first, second, and third ends are aligned with each other and with the blood vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of locating a blood vessel of a patient for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of a patient in the vicinity of a blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a guide housing, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a second end of the second sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a third cannula guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient, for inserting a cannula through the guide housing, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends; (b) inserting a first sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the first sensor senses the blood vessel; (d) inserting a second sensor into the second sensor guide to the second end proximate the skin of the patient; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the second sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be concurrently sensed by both of the first and second sensors, such that the first, second, and third ends are aligned with each other and with the blood vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 14, the first and second sensors comprising ultrasonic probes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of locating a blood vessel for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of a patient in the vicinity of the blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a guide housing, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a second end of the second sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a third cannula guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient, for inserting a cannula through the guide housing, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends; (b) inserting a sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel; (d) removing the sensor from the first sensor guide and inserting the sensor into the second sensor guide to the second end proximate the skin of the patient; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be sensed by the sensor in both of the first and second sensor guides without moving the guide housing, whereby the first, second, and third ends are aligned with each other and with the blood vessel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of locating a blood vessel for cannulation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing proximate the skin of a patient in the vicinity of the blood vessel a cannulation device, the cannulation device comprising a guide housing, a first sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a first end of the first sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a second sensor guide extending through the guide housing to a second end of the second sensor guide proximate the skin of the patient, a third cannula guide extending through the guide housing to a third end of the third cannula guide proximate the skin of the patient, for inserting a cannula through the guide housing, the third end being aligned with the first and second ends; (b) inserting a sensor into the first sensor guide to the first end proximate the skin of the patient; and (c) traversing the guide housing across the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel; (d) removing the sensor from the first sensor guide and inserting the sensor into the second sensor guide to the second end proximate the skin of the patient; (e) rotating the rotating assembly until the sensor senses the blood vessel; and (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the blood vessel can be sensed by the sensor in both of the first and second sensor guides without moving the guide housing, whereby the first, second, and third ends are aligned with each other and with the blood vessel.