Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An atherectomy catheter comprising: a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therein; b) an elongated housing at the distal end of the catheter shaft having an inner chamber and a window in fluid communication with the inner chamber in a wall portion of the elongated housing; c) means for cutting stenotic material which extends through the window into the inner chamber of the housing; d) an elongated large volume inflatable support which is secured to the housing on a side thereof opposite the window, which is in fluid communication with the inflation lumens, which has an effective diameter when inflated such that the ratio of the effective diameter thereof to the diameter of the elongated housing is at least about 1.1:1 and which has an unsecured portion radially constrained only toward the side of the housing opposite the window when uninflated to prevent the unsecured portion of the uninflated large volume inflatable support from extending through the window into the inner chamber of the elongated housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An atherectomy catheter comprising: a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therein; b) an elongated housing at the distal end of the catheter shaft having an inner chamber and a window in fluid communication with the inner chamber in a wall portion of the elongated housing; c) means for cutting stenotic material which extends through the window into the inner chamber of the housing; d) an elongated large volume inflatable support which is secured to the housing on a side thereof opposite the window, which is in fluid communication with the inflation lumens, which has an effective diameter when inflated such that the ratio of the effective diameter thereof to the diameter of the elongated housing is at least about 1.1:1 and which has an unsecured portion radially constrained only toward the side of the housing opposite the window when uninflated to prevent the unsecured portion of the uninflated large volume inflatable support from extending through the window into the inner chamber of the elongated housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the effective diameter of the large volume inflated support to the diameter of the elongated housing is at least about 1.35.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support is formed from inelastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon and a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support which comprises a plurality of substantially longitudinal preferential folds formed in an unsecured portion of the balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 4 wherein the preferential longitudinal folds are configured to produce a tri-fold triangular configuration which forms an overlapping flap when the large volume support is in an uninflated condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 5 wherein the tri-fold triangular configuration further comprises a longitudinal rounded indentation configured to conform to a portion of the elongated housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 4 wherein the preferential longitudinal folds are configured to produce a quad-fold configuration which forms two overlapping flap when the large volume support is in an uninflated condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 7 wherein the quad-fold configuration further comprises a longitudinal rounded indentation configured to conform to a portion of the elongated housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon and a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support which comprises a plurality of substantially latitudinal folds formed in the balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 9 wherein the housing is configured to conform to curvature in a body lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon and a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support comprises a number of struts disposed within the balloon, wherein each strut has opposing ends and each end is connected to non-adjacent points on the balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support and the constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support comprises a plurality of balloons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 13 further comprising a number of perfusion lumens, wherein each perfusion lumen is formed by two adjacent balloons and the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon and a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support which comprises a plurality of strips of coating material secured to the balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the elongated housing configured to restrain the large volume inflatable support.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein a constraining means for constraining the large volume inflatable support comprises a ridge formed around the elongated window configured to restrain the large volume inflatable support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon and a constraining means comprises a balloon storage means for constraining the large volume inflatable support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 17 wherein the balloon storage means comprises a storage lumen in the catheter shaft and a tension supplying means connected to the balloon and disposed within the storage lumen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The atherectomy catheter of claim 17 wherein the balloon storage means comprises a storage lumen in the housing and a tension supplying means connected to the balloon and disposed within the storage lumen.