Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, and an outer surface with an opening in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device which can pass through the opening to access the lumen of the artery, wherein a portion of the lumen adjacent and proximal the opening communicates directly with the opening such that the opening is freely accessible from said portion of the lumen; and an expandable filter disposed within the distal region of the elongate member and distal the opening, the filter being expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, the filter having a first distal edge circumferentially in contact with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member and an expandable proximal edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, and an outer surface with an opening in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device which can pass through the opening to access the lumen of the artery, wherein a portion of the lumen adjacent and proximal the opening communicates directly with the opening such that the opening is freely accessible from said portion of the lumen; and an expandable filter disposed within the distal region of the elongate member and distal the opening, the filter being expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, the filter having a first distal edge circumferentially in contact with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member and an expandable proximal edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The guiding catheter of claim 1 , further comprising the medical device inserted through the lumen of the flexible elongate member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guiding catheter of claim 2 , wherein the medical device is an atherectomy catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guiding catheter of claim 1 , wherein the expandable filter further comprises an expansion mechanism which is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The guiding catheter of claim 4 , wherein the expandable filter further comprises a mesh having a first edge attached to the expansion mechanism and a second edge disposed circumferentially about and closely associated with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guiding catheter of claim 4 , wherein the expansion mechanism comprises an inflation seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The guiding catheter of claim 6 , wherein the flexible elongate member further includes an inflation system comprising a first lumen adapted to receive pressurized fluid and a second lumen adapted to evacuate gas, and wherein the inflation seal further includes an entry port in fluid communication with the first lumen of the elongate member and an exit port in fluid communication with the second lumen of the elongate member, so that when fluid is advanced through the first lumen, the fluid enters the inflation seal and forces gas from the inflation seal through the second lumen, thereby purging the system of gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having an outer surface, a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, and a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device; and at least one positioning member disposed within the distal region of the flexible elongate member, wherein during use said positioning member is deployed to stabilize or deflect the elongate member within the vessel lumen and away from a longitudinal center line of the vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having an outer surface, a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, and a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device; and at least one positioning member disposed within the distal region of the flexible elongate member, wherein during use said positioning member is deployed to stabilize or deflect the elongate member within the vessel lumen and away from a longitudinal center line of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The guiding catheter of claim 8 , wherein a distal segment of the flexible elongate member extends beyond the at least one positioning member and is bent at an angle of greater than 10° so as to direct a medical device toward the vessel wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guiding catheter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a mechanical extending arm operable from the proximal region of the elongate member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guiding catheter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a balloon which is inflatable by a separate lumen within the guiding catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guiding catheter of claim 11 , wherein the positioning member comprises an elastomeric balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guiding catheter of claim 11 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises an elastomeric balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The guiding catheter of claim 11 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a balloon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The guiding catheter of claim 8 , further comprising an expandable filter disposed within the distal region of the flexible elongate member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The guiding catheter of claim 15 , wherein the expandable filter is downstream of the at least one positioning member.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for protecting a patient from embolization during a percutaneous medical procedure, comprising the steps of: providing a guiding catheter comprising a flexible elongate member having a lumen extending from a proximal to a distal region of the elongate member, and having an expandable filter within the distal region of the elongate member; advancing the distal region of the guiding catheter to a region of interest within a vessel of the patient; expanding the expandable filter downstream of the region of interest; deploying a medical instrument through an opening of the elongate member; and performing a percutaneous procedure with the medical instrument on the vessel upstream of the filter, wherein embolic material dislodged by the procedure is captured by the filter.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for protecting a patient from embolization during a percutaneous medical procedure, comprising the steps of: providing a guiding catheter comprising a flexible elongate member having a lumen extending from a proximal to a distal region of the elongate member, and having an expandable filter within the distal region of the elongate member; advancing the distal region of the guiding catheter to a region of interest within a vessel of the patient; expanding the expandable filter downstream of the region of interest; deploying a medical instrument through an opening of the elongate member; and performing a percutaneous procedure with the medical instrument on the vessel upstream of the filter, wherein embolic material dislodged by the procedure is captured by the filter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guiding catheter of claim 17 , wherein the therapeutic catheter is an atherectomy catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the guiding catheter further comprises a positioning member within the distal region of the elongate member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of deploying the positioning member to deflect or stabilize the guiding catheter within the vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the positioning member is upstream of the expandable filter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the medical instrument is a therapeutic catheter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the therapeutic catheter is an atherectomy catheter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
184 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, and an outer surface with an opening in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device which can pass through the opening to access the lumen of the artery, wherein a portion of the lumen adjacent and proximal the opening communicates directly with the opening such that the opening is freely accessible from said portion of the lumen; an expandable filter disposed within the distal region of the elongate member and distal the opening, the filter being expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, the filter having a first distal edge circumferentially in contact with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member and an expandable proximal edge; and the medical device received by the lumen of the flexible elongate member and passing through the opening to access the lumen of the artery.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
184 words
A guiding catheter for positioning a medical device within an artery, said guiding catheter comprising: a flexible elongate member having a distal region adapted to enter an artery, a proximal region, a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, and an outer surface with an opening in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a medical device which can pass through the opening to access the lumen of the artery, wherein a portion of the lumen adjacent and proximal the opening communicates directly with the opening such that the opening is freely accessible from said portion of the lumen; an expandable filter disposed within the distal region of the elongate member and distal the opening, the filter being expandable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, the filter having a first distal edge circumferentially in contact with the outer surface of the flexible elongate member and an expandable proximal edge; and the medical device received by the lumen of the flexible elongate member and passing through the opening to access the lumen of the artery.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The guiding catheter of claim 24 , wherein a distal segment of the flexible elongate member proximal the expandable filter is bent at an angle of greater than 10° so as to direct a medical device toward the vessel wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The guiding catheter of claim 24 , further comprising at least one positioning member disposed within the distal region of the flexible elongate member, wherein during use said positioning member is deployed to deflect the elongate member within the vessel lumen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guiding catheter of claim 26 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a mechanical extending arm operable from the proximal region of the elongate member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guiding catheter of claim 26 , wherein the at least one positioning member comprises a balloon which is inflatable by a separate lumen within the guiding catheter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The guiding catheter of claim 28 , wherein the balloon is elastomeric.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The guiding catheter of claim 26 , wherein the at least one positioning member is proximal to the expandable filter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The guiding catheter of claim 24 , wherein the medical device is an atherectomy assembly comprising means for plaque removal and trapping means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guiding catheter of claim 24 , wherein the medical device is bent at an angle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The guiding catheter of claim 32 wherein the medical device is bent at an angle of less than 90°.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
The guiding catheter of claim 24 , further comprising at least one positioning member disposed within the distal region of the flexible elongate member, wherein during use said positioning member is deployed to stabilize the elongate member within the vessel lumen.