Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of temporarily filtering embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cannula having an outer surface, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and a port on the outer surface of the cannula, said port having a passage therein extending distally into the cannula; providing a modular filter cartridge removably insertable into the port, said modular filter having an expandable filter therein, the expandable filter capable of assuming enlarged and contracted conditions; introducing the distal end of the cannula into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter into the port on the cannula; advancing the expandable filter through the cannula into the blood vessel; deploying the expandable filter within the vessel; and removing the expandable filter from the vessel, wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the expandable filter is removed from the vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of temporarily filtering embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cannula having an outer surface, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and a port on the outer surface of the cannula, said port having a passage therein extending distally into the cannula; providing a modular filter cartridge removably insertable into the port, said modular filter having an expandable filter therein, the expandable filter capable of assuming enlarged and contracted conditions; introducing the distal end of the cannula into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter into the port on the cannula; advancing the expandable filter through the cannula into the blood vessel; deploying the expandable filter within the vessel; and removing the expandable filter from the vessel, wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the expandable filter is removed from the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of removing the modular filter from the port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, comprising the additional step of inserting a second modular filter into the port of the cannula after the step of removing the modular filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The arterial cannula of claim 1, wherein the modular filter cartridge provides a hemostatic seal between the expandable filter and the port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The arterial cannula of claim 1, wherein the modular filter cartridge comprises: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an expansion frame mounted on the distal end of the shaft which is expandable between a contracted and enlarged condition; and a filter mesh attached to the expansion frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The arterial cannula of claim 1, wherein the passage in the filter port communicates with the lumen in the cannula.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The arterial cannula of claim 5, wherein the expansion frame comprises a substantially circular belt of self-expanding material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arterial cannula of claim 7, wherein the self-expanding material is spring stainless steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The arterial cannula of claim 7, wherein the self-expanding material is Nitinol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
A medical device for filtering embolic material, comprising: a cannula having an outer surface, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, the distal end having a distal opening, a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, and a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end and communicates with the distal opening; a port on the outer surface of the cannula and located adjacent a distal region of the cannula, the port having a passage therein extending distally and communicating with a distal opening in the port, said passage separated from the lumen of the cannula; and a modular filter cartridge removably insertable through the passage of the port, wherein the modular filter cartridge comprises: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of said shaft is configured to be insertable through the passage of said port while the proximal end of said shaft extends outside of said port; an expansion frame mounted on the distal end of the shaft, wherein said frame is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, wherein said expansion frame is deployable through the distal opening of said passage of said port; and a filter mesh attached to the expansion frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
A medical device for filtering embolic material, comprising: a cannula having an outer surface, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, the distal end having a distal opening, a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, and a lumen which extends from the proximal end to the distal end and communicates with the distal opening; a port on the outer surface of the cannula and located adjacent a distal region of the cannula, the port having a passage therein extending distally and communicating with a distal opening in the port, said passage separated from the lumen of the cannula; and a modular filter cartridge removably insertable through the passage of the port, wherein the modular filter cartridge comprises: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of said shaft is configured to be insertable through the passage of said port while the proximal end of said shaft extends outside of said port; an expansion frame mounted on the distal end of the shaft, wherein said frame is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, wherein said expansion frame is deployable through the distal opening of said passage of said port; and a filter mesh attached to the expansion frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the modular filter cartridge provides a hemostatic seal between the expandable filter and the port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the expansion frame comprises a substantially circular belt of self-expanding material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medical device of claim 12, wherein the self-expanding material is spring stainless steel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The medical device of claim 12, wherein the self-expanding material is Nitinol or shape-memory material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the expansion frame comprises an umbrella structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the expansion frame comprises a plurality of struts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the expansion frame comprises a plurality of compressed springs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medical device of claim 10, wherein the cannula further includes a suture flange.