Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An endarterectomy catheter for removing obstructions from an artery comprising: a housing adapted for entry into the artery; the housing including a forward end and a rearward end, and having an opening in the housing between the forward and rearward ends for receiving an obstruction; a primary shear disposed within the housing and movable backward and forward across the opening; means connected to the primary shear and operable from outside the artery for moving the primary shear forward and backward; and means for locating the housing within the artery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 1 further including means for collecting fragments of an obstruction that has been cut by the primary shear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 1 in which the housing is substantially cylindrical and the primary shear is hollow, substantially cylindrical and snugly disposed within the housing, the primary shear having first and second ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 3 in which the primary shear is substantially closed at the second end for collecting fragments of an obstruction that has been cut by the primary shear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 3 in which the housing includes an inner tubular section extending from the first end to the second end, and an outer tubular section extending from the first end, the inner tubular section being disposed within the outer tubular section, and the primary shear being disposed between the inner tubular section and the outer tubular section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 3 in which the housing includes an inner tubular section extending from the forward end to the rearward end, and an outer tubular section extending from the rearward end partially towards the forward end so as to form an opening between the outer tubular section and the forward end, the opening extending around the housing, the inner tubular section being disposed within the outer tubular section, and the primary shear being disposed between the inner tubular section and the outer tubular section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 3 in which the opening is defined in the forward direction by a forward edge, and the forward edge is sharp to form a secondary shear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 6 in which the opening is defined in the forward direction by a forward edge, and the forward edge is sharp to form a secondary shear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The endarterectomy catheter of claim 8 further including a notch circumferentially formed around the forward end of the housing to receive the cutting edge of the primary shear.