Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A catheter for insertion into biological tissue, said catheter comprising a tubular sheath (104) having a longitudinal passageway therein capable of transporting a fluid to the tissue, and being able to maintain fluid flow when said sheath is flexed; and an elongated coil (105) within and contacting said longitudinal passageway of said tubular sheath, characterised in that the outer surface of the coil and the inner surface of the sheath are friction fitted in order to permit frictional movement therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 1, characterised in that the sheath has a nominal tensile strength greater the 2,109,300Kg. per square metre (3,000 pounds per square inch), or at least 14,062,000Kg. per square metre (20,000 pounds per square inch).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 1, characterised in that said tubular sheath has an outside diameter less than 0.084cms (0.033"), and/or an inside dfiameter in a range of 0.02 cms to 0.066cms (0.008" to 0.026").
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1, characterised in that said tubular sheath comprises a plastic material, or polyimide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The catheter of claim 4, characterised in that the tubular sheath and the coil have a combined thickness in a range of 0.005cms to 0.015cms (0.002" to 0.006"), and/or the catheter has an outside diameter in a range of 0.0254cms to 0.08cms (0.010" to 0.032"), and/or said coil includes a spiral member having a cross-sectional dimension in a range of 0.00254cms to 0.00762cms (0.001" to 0.003").
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of any one preceding claim, characterised in that said spiral member comprises a stainless steel wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1, characterised in that said coil has a passageway therein, and in that said catheter further comprises a second tube positioned within the passageway of said coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The catheter of any one preceding claim, further characterised by a strand either spirally positioned around a length of said elongated coil and attached about the opposite ends thereof, or positioned through a passageway of said coil and attached about the opposite ends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of any one preceding claim, characterised in that the turns of said coil are variably spaced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The catheter of claim 9, characterised in that the coil includes a first plurality of turns and a second plurality of turns positioned about a distal end thereof, the second plurality being more loosely coupled than said first plurality of turns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The catheter of claim 3, characterised in that the sheath has a wall thickness in a range of 0.00254 to 0.00762cms (0.001" to 0.003"), and/or the coil has an outside diameter in a range of 0.02 to 0.066cms (0.008" to 0.026").
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 11, characterised in that the ratio of the outside coil diameter to said member diameter is in a range of 4 to 10.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 7, characterised in that the second tube has a wall thickness in a range of 0.00254 to 0.00762cms (0.001" to 0.003").