Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A dilatation catheter (1) for reducing or eliminating vasoconstrictions or vascular occlusions (2), having fitted to the distal end thereof a pressure member (3) serving to exert a pressure on the constricted vascular wall, characterized in that the catheter (1) has an inner guide channel (6) for a stylet (7) and is flexibly bendable or deflectable near the pressure member (3), that the stylet (7) has as a support and control element near its end (8) projecting up to or into the pressure member (3) in the position of use a pre-bend or pre-curvature (9) and that the stylet (7) is adapted to be coupled to and to be rotary driven by a rotary actuator (5) arranged outside the vessel at the proximal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the permanent pre-bend or pre-curvature (9) of the stylet (7) is changeable, possibly repeatedly by bending or bending back the stylet more intensively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rotary actuator (5) is a motor with a hollow output shaft (10), that the catheter (1) runs through said hollow output shaft and the motor and is adapted to be coupled fast for rotation with the output shaft, and that after having been introduced into the hollow catheter the stylet is adapted to be coupled fast for rotation with the proximal end of said catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a driving motor (5) for the rotary drive of the catheter (1) and stylet (7) has two output shafts (10) which are arranged in alignment with each other and are hollow, the stylet (7) being insertable through both output shafts into the catheter coupled fast for rotation with the first output shaft and being adapted to be separably coupled to the second output shaft in the position of use.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distal end (8) of the stylet (7) has a stop, by way of example a ball or the like, for location against a counter-stop or shoulder (14) situated at the distal end, particularly inside the pressure member (3).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stylet (7) is straight at normal temperature, but consists of memory metal at least in the area of the distal end thereof at the location of the pre-bend or pre-curvature (9) and is bent or curved at body temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A catheter as claimed in claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in a position slightly retracted relative to the distal end the stylet (7) or the like is adapted to be coupled to the rotary actuator (5), and the stylet end deflected through the pre-curvature (9) deflects the pliant or flexible catheter (1) zone adjacent to the pressure member (3) of the catheter (1) relative to the path of said catheter and relative to the mid position of the pressure member (3) and sets the same into an approximately circular movement as the stylet (7) rotates, and that at said zone preferably a second pressure member (16) is permanently or detachably arranged on the outside of the catheter (1).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the catheter (1) is a single-layer and preferably single or multiple helix of flexible metallic wire, plastic filaments and/or bands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the adjacent turns (17) in the shape of a helical line touch each other at least in the straight zones and at the inside of a curvature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the catheter is interlaced from a plurality of parallel wound and/or crossing wires, filaments and/or bands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 5 to 10, characterized in that the pressure member is also rotatable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the pressure member is adapted to be coupled to the rotary actuator by way of a rotatable element.