Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for removing an obstruction from inside of a lumen, comprising: a catheter defining a first fluid pathway and a second fluid pathway, wherein at least a portion of said catheter is adapted for insertion into the lumen, said first pathway accommodates an inlet fluid flow path from a proximal portion of the catheter towards a distal end of the catheter for providing pressurized fluid into the lumen, and said second pathway accommodates a return fluid flow path from said distal end of said catheter towards said proximal end; wherein the first fluid pathway consists of a first channel and the second fluid pathway consists of a second channel; a guidewire longitudinally extending through said catheter and having a tip portion extending beyond said distal end of said catheter for dislodging the obstruction upon rotation; means for rotating said guidewire to cause said tip portion to dislodge the obstruction; and a nozzle formed at the distal end of said first channel for extending into said lumen and configured to direct pressurized fluid to said lumen and said return fluid flow path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for removing an obstruction from inside of a lumen, comprising: a catheter defining a first fluid pathway and a second fluid pathway, wherein at least a portion of said catheter is adapted for insertion into the lumen, said first pathway accommodates an inlet fluid flow path from a proximal portion of the catheter towards a distal end of the catheter for providing pressurized fluid into the lumen, and said second pathway accommodates a return fluid flow path from said distal end of said catheter towards said proximal end; wherein the first fluid pathway consists of a first channel and the second fluid pathway consists of a second channel; a guidewire longitudinally extending through said catheter and having a tip portion extending beyond said distal end of said catheter for dislodging the obstruction upon rotation; means for rotating said guidewire to cause said tip portion to dislodge the obstruction; and a nozzle formed at the distal end of said first channel for extending into said lumen and configured to direct pressurized fluid to said lumen and said return fluid flow path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inlet fluid tube which defines said inlet fluid flow path and is disposed in said first channel, and wherein said guidewire is disposed in said second channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is retractable into said catheter for aiding introduction of said catheter into the lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tip portion and a segment of a straight portion of said guidewire extend beyond the distal end of said catheter in operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of a spiral, a curve, a sine wave, a straight section, a multiplane sine wave, a multiple coil, an oval, a basket comprising a plurality of ovals, a sphere comprising a plurality of circles, a helix, a half sine wave, and a multi-helix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said tip portion has a termination selected from the group consisting of a plain distal tip, an open loop distal tip, a closed loop distal tip, and a ball weld distal tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion has a termination selected from the group consisting of a plain distal tip, an open loop distal tip, a closed loop distal tip, and a ball weld distal tip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion comprises a base filament and a plurality of cutting filaments extending perpendicularly from said base filament.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion comprises a circular element and a plurality of cutting filaments extending radially outward from said circular element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first radiopaque marker at the proximal end of said tip portion and a second radiopaque marker at the distal end of said tip portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said tip portion has a radiopaque marker at a radially outermost point of said tip portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for rotating said guidewire comprise an external driver coupled to said guidewire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said external driver is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic driver and an electrical driver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said catheter has a diameter of five to seven french.