Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An assembly for visualization and access within a body cavity comprising: a sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen therebetween, the sleeve also having a rigid, transparent bulb disposed at the distal end of the sleeve, the transparent bulb having a convex surface; a scope having a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being slidably positionable in the lumen, a channel extending longitudinally through the shaft, and a lens in the channel near the distal end, the shaft being disposed in the lumen so that the lens is optically aligned with the rigid, transparent bulb; and a guide sleeve having a lumen, the sleeve being slidably positionable in the lumen to a predetermined position in which the convex surface protrudes from a distal end of the guide sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An assembly for visualization and access within a body cavity comprising: a sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen therebetween, the sleeve also having a rigid, transparent bulb disposed at the distal end of the sleeve, the transparent bulb having a convex surface; a scope having a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being slidably positionable in the lumen, a channel extending longitudinally through the shaft, and a lens in the channel near the distal end, the shaft being disposed in the lumen so that the lens is optically aligned with the rigid, transparent bulb; and a guide sleeve having a lumen, the sleeve being slidably positionable in the lumen to a predetermined position in which the convex surface protrudes from a distal end of the guide sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transparent bulb is made of a material selected from glass, acrylic, polystyrene, and polycarbonate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transparent bulb has a transverse cross-sectional area larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transparent bulb has a distal surface, the distal surface being convex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein sleeve has a length sufficient to reach an interior of a patient's heart from outside the patient's chest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein the sleeve has a length of at least about 15 cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A repair system for repairing a septal defect in a patient's heart, the repair system comprising: a sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen therebetween, the sleeve having a rigid, transparent bulb at the distal end; a scope having a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being slidably positionable in the lumen, a channel extending longitudinally through the shaft, and a lens in the channel near the distal end, the lens being optically aligned with the transparent bulb when the shaft is positioned in the lumen; a guide sleeve having a lumen, the sleeve being slidably positionable in the lumen to a predetermined position in which the convex surface protrudes from a distal end of the guide sleeve; and a septal defect closure device positionable through the lumen of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A repair system for repairing a septal defect in a patient's heart, the repair system comprising: a sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen therebetween, the sleeve having a rigid, transparent bulb at the distal end; a scope having a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft being slidably positionable in the lumen, a channel extending longitudinally through the shaft, and a lens in the channel near the distal end, the lens being optically aligned with the transparent bulb when the shaft is positioned in the lumen; a guide sleeve having a lumen, the sleeve being slidably positionable in the lumen to a predetermined position in which the convex surface protrudes from a distal end of the guide sleeve; and a septal defect closure device positionable through the lumen of the sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the septal defect closure device comprises a delivery shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a patch releasably held at the distal end, the patch having a deployed configuration for positioning across a septal defect and a collapsed configuration for positioning through the lumen in the sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the septal defect closure device is configured to apply a suture to the cardiac septum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the transparent bulb has a transverse cross-sectional area larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the transparent bulb has a distal surface, the distal surface being convex.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein sleeve has a length sufficient to reach an interior of a patient's heart from outside the patient's chest.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The repair system of claim 12 wherein the sleeve has a length of at least about 15 cm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the sleeve has an outer diameter of less than about 12 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The repair system of claim 7 wherein the sleeve is substantially rigid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The repair system of claim 7 further comprising an access cannula having a distal end positionable through a wall of the heart, a proximal end, and an access channel therebetween, the sleeve being slidably positionable through the access channel into the heart.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The repair system of claim 16 wherein the access cannula has a flange on a distal end thereof for engaging an interior wall of the heart.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The repairs system of claim 16 further comprising an obturator removably positionable in the access channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The repair system of claim 18 wherein the obturator has a distal end configured to penetrate the wall of the heart.