Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having an outer diameter, the balloon having a surface layer over an underlying layer, the surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the surface layer will not damage the underlying layer; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent having a thickness, a portion of the stent thickness being recessed into the balloon surface layer and forming a permanent first and second ridge deformation for receiving at least a portion of the stent so as to reduce stent slippage or snagging and cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly, wherein the stent is formed of a helically wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the wire wound into a zig-zag pattern and wherein the first and second ridge define a recess in the outer diameter of the balloon, the recess sized to receive the helically wound wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having an outer diameter, the balloon having a surface layer over an underlying layer, the surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the surface layer will not damage the underlying layer; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent having a thickness, a portion of the stent thickness being recessed into the balloon surface layer and forming a permanent first and second ridge deformation for receiving at least a portion of the stent so as to reduce stent slippage or snagging and cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly, wherein the stent is formed of a helically wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the wire wound into a zig-zag pattern and wherein the first and second ridge define a recess in the outer diameter of the balloon, the recess sized to receive the helically wound wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the zig-zag pattern is canted toward the proximal and distal ends of the stent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the recess is more than 5% of the stent diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the recess is less than 50 percent of the balloon wall thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the recess ranges from approximately 0.00025 inches to approximately 0.001 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the balloon surface layer is comprised of a polymeric material, the recess being impressed into the surface layer, the surface layer having a sufficient coefficient of friction so as to reduce stent slippage or snagging and cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the recess is impressed into the surface layer as well as into the underlying layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the stent is made of tantalum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is comprised of an elastomeric polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is a coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is comprised of a NuSil 1081 at 10% in 1:1 ethyl acetate:acetone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is comprised of poly(vinyl acetate) with a mole weight of 140,000 at 100 mg/ml in acetone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is formed by a coaxial extrusion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the surface layer is comprised of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter system according to claim 6 wherein the polymeric surface layer has a lower melt temperature than Low-Density Polyethylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein the stent is formed of a round wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
209 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent is formed of a helically wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the balloon having a polymeric surface layer over an underlying layer, the polymeric surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the polymeric surface layer will not damage the underlying layer, the polymeric surface layer having a permanent first and second ridge defining a recess sized to receive the helically wound wire, the underlying layer having a first coefficient of friction, the polymeric surface layer having a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, the friction between the stent and the polymeric surface layer being sufficient to reduce stent slippage and to cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
209 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent is formed of a helically wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the balloon having a polymeric surface layer over an underlying layer, the polymeric surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the polymeric surface layer will not damage the underlying layer, the polymeric surface layer having a permanent first and second ridge defining a recess sized to receive the helically wound wire, the underlying layer having a first coefficient of friction, the polymeric surface layer having a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, the friction between the stent and the polymeric surface layer being sufficient to reduce stent slippage and to cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the stent is made of tantalum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the surface layer is made of an elastomeric polymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the surface layer is a coating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the surface layer is comprised of NuSil 1081 at 10% in 1:1 ethyl acetate:acetone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the coating is comprised of poly(vinyl acetate) with a mole weight of 140,000 at 100 mg/ml in acetone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the surface layer is a coaxial extrusion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the surface layer is comprised of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the stent is formed of a round wire.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the recess is a permanent deformation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the polymeric surface layer has a lower melt temperature than Low-Density Polyethylene.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
207 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having an outer diameter the balloon having a surface layer over an underlying layer, the surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the surface layer will not damage the underlying layer; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent having a thickness, a portion of the stent thickness being recessed into the balloon outer diameter forming a permanent first and second ridge deformation defining a recess for receiving at least a portion of the stent so as to reduce stent slippage or snagging and cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly, wherein the stent is formed of a wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the wire wound into a zig-zag pattern and wherein the recess is sized to receive the longitudinally movable elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
207 words
An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel the system comprising: a catheter comprising: a shaft defining an inflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon proximal end being sealingly affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having an outer diameter the balloon having a surface layer over an underlying layer, the surface layer having a lower melt temperature than the underlying layer such that heating the surface layer will not damage the underlying layer; a stent mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the stent having a thickness, a portion of the stent thickness being recessed into the balloon outer diameter forming a permanent first and second ridge deformation defining a recess for receiving at least a portion of the stent so as to reduce stent slippage or snagging and cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly, wherein the stent is formed of a wound wire having longitudinally movable elements, the wire wound into a zig-zag pattern and wherein the recess is sized to receive the longitudinally movable elements.