Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the distal end being closed at its tip and including a plurality of holes near the distal end; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person; (c) and means including a flexible tubular passageway communicating with said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the distal end being closed at its tip and including a plurality of holes near the distal end; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person; (c) and means including a flexible tubular passageway communicating with said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
198 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the distal end being closed at its tip and including a plurality of holes near the distal end; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person, said means for preventing and for allowing being that the most distal portion of the balloon, when inflated, extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the holes near the distal end of said first member; and (c) means including a second flexible tubular member contacting said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
198 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open, the distal end being closed at its tip and including a plurality of holes near the distal end; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person, said means for preventing and for allowing being that the most distal portion of the balloon, when inflated, extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the holes near the distal end of said first member; and (c) means including a second flexible tubular member contacting said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first member is about at least 1.5 centimeters in external diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for readily inflating and deflating additionally comprises means for connecting the end of said second member opposite said balloon with a medical syringe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination comprising: (a) a heart-lung machine means; (b) and the cannula apparatus of claim 1 connected to said machine means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein the means for preventing and for allowing is that the most distal portion of the balloon, when inflated, extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the holes near the distal end of said first member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for readily inflating and deflating additionally comprises a medical syringe filled with fluid and means for connecting said syringe with the end of said second member opposite said balloon.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for inserting a cannula during a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) filling the lumen of a cannula with liquid, the cannula including a first elongated and flexible tubular member defining the lumen therein and having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open and the distal end including a plurality of holes near the end thereof; (b) occluding the filled lumen of the cannula near the holes at the distal end of the cannula, said occluding comprising inflating a balloon on the inside wall of the first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said occluding further being as to prevent the entrapment of any air near the distal end of the first member while allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end upon insertion thereof into the circulatory system of a person; (c) inserting the distal end of the filled and occluded cannula into the circulatory system of a person through a prepared incision; (d) and unoccluding the lumen of the cannula thereby allowing liquid to flow between the cannula and the circulatory system, said unoccluding comprising deflating the balloon on the inside wall of the cannula.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for inserting a cannula during a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) filling the lumen of a cannula with liquid, the cannula including a first elongated and flexible tubular member defining the lumen therein and having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open and the distal end including a plurality of holes near the end thereof; (b) occluding the filled lumen of the cannula near the holes at the distal end of the cannula, said occluding comprising inflating a balloon on the inside wall of the first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said occluding further being as to prevent the entrapment of any air near the distal end of the first member while allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end upon insertion thereof into the circulatory system of a person; (c) inserting the distal end of the filled and occluded cannula into the circulatory system of a person through a prepared incision; (d) and unoccluding the lumen of the cannula thereby allowing liquid to flow between the cannula and the circulatory system, said unoccluding comprising deflating the balloon on the inside wall of the cannula.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said inflating is to an extent that the most distal portion of the balloon extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the holes thereby preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of the cannula during said inserting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the cannula is closed at its tip, said filling being accomplished through the holes near the closed distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open and the distal end including a plurality of holes near the end thereof; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person; and (c) means including a flexible tubular passageway communicating with said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
A balloon-tipped extracorporeal cannula apparatus suitable for use in a cardiac cannulation technique comprising: (a) a first elongated and flexible tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being open and the distal end including a plurality of holes near the end thereof; (b) an inflatable balloon on the inside wall of said first member adjacent to and proximal of the holes therein, said balloon, when inflated, completely occluding the lumen of said first member and including means for preventing the entrapment of any air near the distal end of said first member and for allowing liquid to wash freely across and through the unobstructed portion of the distal end of said first member upon insertion of the distal end into the circulatory system of a person; and (c) means including a flexible tubular passageway communicating with said balloon for readily inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for preventing and for allowing is that the most distal portion of the balloon, when inflated, extends to a point between the most distal portion and the most proximal portion of the holes near the distal end of said first member.