Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A catheter comprising an inner tube having a distal end for insertion into a human or animal body and a proximal end to be located outside the body, a hollow connector secured to the proximal end of the inner tube for attachment to a fluid supply or fluid drain, an outer tube concentric with the inner tube and having a distal end secured to the distal end of the inner tube, a proximal end to be located outside the body and an expandable and contractable retention structure adjacent to the distal end, actuating means for the expandable retention structure including an attachment to the inner tube at or near its proximal end and an attachment to the outer tube at or near its proximal end, in which the said attachments include elements to effect relative sliding movement of the proximal end of the tubes and thereby to expand or contract the retention structure, wherein a housing is secured to the proximal end of the outer tube and is so dimensioned that when the retention structure is in a contracted condition, the inner tube connector is located within the housing and when the retention structure is in an expanded condition, the inner tube connector protrudes beyond the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A catheter comprising an inner tube having a distal end for insertion into a human or animal body and a proximal end to be located outside the body, a hollow connector secured to the proximal end of the inner tube for attachment to a fluid supply or fluid drain, an outer tube concentric with the inner tube and having a distal end secured to the distal end of the inner tube, a proximal end to be located outside the body and an expandable and contractable retention structure adjacent to the distal end, actuating means for the expandable retention structure including an attachment to the inner tube at or near its proximal end and an attachment to the outer tube at or near its proximal end, in which the said attachments include elements to effect relative sliding movement of the proximal end of the tubes and thereby to expand or contract the retention structure, wherein a housing is secured to the proximal end of the outer tube and is so dimensioned that when the retention structure is in a contracted condition, the inner tube connector is located within the housing and when the retention structure is in an expanded condition, the inner tube connector protrudes beyond the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow connector is one part of a luer connection, connectable to, as the other part of the luer connection, a complementary fitting on an external fitment such as a fluid tube or syringe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elements to effect relative sliding movement of the tubes are protruding pins, which are attached to the inner tube, and a sleeve, which is attached to the outer tube and has axial grooves or slots to receive the pins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 3, wherein a detent is provided at each end of the axial grooves or slots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the housing to receive the inner tube hollow connector is an integral part of the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A catheter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal shape of the housing and the external shape of the hollow connector are of substantially circular cross section, the internal diameter of the housing being slightly larger than the external diameter of the hollow connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing is formed at least in part by an internally threaded nut rotatably connected to the outer tube attachment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the internally threaded nut and the outer tube attachment have a generally cylindrical outer shape and similar external diameter to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the angle of the threads is such as to effect the full sliding movement by a rotation of the nut of less than 180°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the angle of the threads is complementary with the threading of any external fitment to which the hollow connector is to be attached.