Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for percutaneous insertion of an intra-aortic balloon assembly into the body of a patient, said assembly comprising: an introducer sheath formed of a material adated to easily split upon the application of a force tending to enlarge the sheath in an outward radial direction, and an intra-aortic balloon assembly including an intra-aortic balloon and cooperating balloon catheter adapted to be inserted into the body of a patient through said introducer sheath; adapter means having a central opening arranged for slidably receiving said balloon catheter and including cutting means thereon engageable with said introducer sheath when pressed thereagainst, for cutting and splitting said sheath; and said adapter means further including means for providing a blood-tight sliding seal between said adapter means and said balloon catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for percutaneous insertion of an intra-aortic balloon assembly into the body of a patient, said assembly comprising: an introducer sheath formed of a material adated to easily split upon the application of a force tending to enlarge the sheath in an outward radial direction, and an intra-aortic balloon assembly including an intra-aortic balloon and cooperating balloon catheter adapted to be inserted into the body of a patient through said introducer sheath; adapter means having a central opening arranged for slidably receiving said balloon catheter and including cutting means thereon engageable with said introducer sheath when pressed thereagainst, for cutting and splitting said sheath; and said adapter means further including means for providing a blood-tight sliding seal between said adapter means and said balloon catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: annular mounting means arranged on said adapter means; elastic collar means secured to said annular mounting means and having at least a portion thereof encircling the introducer sheath to press the introducer sheath against a portion of the adpater means to provide a blood-tight seal between said introducer sheath and said adapter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means on said adapter means for enlarging the end of the introducer sheath as it is being pressed against said cutting means to place the introducer sheath under tension just prior to being cut so as to facilitate the cutting operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said introducer sheath is provided with an indicia located a predetermined distance inwardly from the distal end of the introducer sheath to facilitate withdrawal of the introducer sheath so that when the aforesaid indicia is exposed beyond the surface of the skin of the patient, this assures that at least a portion of the introducer sheath extends through the perforation in the artery and a predetermined distance along the interior of the artery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said introducer sheath is a thin gauge plastic sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plastic is preferably tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said introducer sheath is scored.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said introducer sheath is scored wherein the score line extends over substantially the entire length of said sheath to facilitate splitting of the introducer sheath.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said score line is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sheath is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel score lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the scoring forms a groove in said introducer sheath to sufficiently weaken the sheath in the region of the groove to facilitate splitting of the sheath in the region of the score line when the sheath is stretched and enlarged by said adapter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sheath is a peel-apart sheath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said peel-apart sheath is formed of a grain-oriented plastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means on said adapter means for preventing an operator from engaging the cutting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises a substantially radially aligned cutting edge extending outwardly from said adapter means; and means integral with said adapter means and overlying the outer end of said cutting edge for preventing an operator from engaging the cutting edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means overlying the cutting edge comprises an annular-shaped member overlying the cutting edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the overlying means comprises a radially aligned, smoothed-free surface aligned with and extending beyond said cutting edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said overlying means comprises an enlarged portion integral with and overlying the cutting edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
An intra-aortic balloon assembly designed for percutaneous insertion and including: an intra-aortic balloon and cooperating balloon catheter and an introducer sheath for introducing the intra-aortic balloon and balloon catheter into the artery of a patient being treated; a cylindrical member having a hollow interior for slidably receiving the balloon catheter therethrough and forming a sliding blood-tight seal with the balloon catheter; the exterior surface of said cylindrical member having a small diameter end positioned to engage an adjacent end of the introducer sheath and a large diameter end with a tapering portion intermediate said small and large diameter ends and tapering outwardly from said small diameter end towards said large diameter end; and at least one cutting member arranged along said tapered portion for cutting and splitting the introducer sheath as the sheath and cutting member are pressed against one another, said cylindrical member forming a blood-tight seal with said introducer sheath.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
An intra-aortic balloon assembly designed for percutaneous insertion and including: an intra-aortic balloon and cooperating balloon catheter and an introducer sheath for introducing the intra-aortic balloon and balloon catheter into the artery of a patient being treated; a cylindrical member having a hollow interior for slidably receiving the balloon catheter therethrough and forming a sliding blood-tight seal with the balloon catheter; the exterior surface of said cylindrical member having a small diameter end positioned to engage an adjacent end of the introducer sheath and a large diameter end with a tapering portion intermediate said small and large diameter ends and tapering outwardly from said small diameter end towards said large diameter end; and at least one cutting member arranged along said tapered portion for cutting and splitting the introducer sheath as the sheath and cutting member are pressed against one another, said cylindrical member forming a blood-tight seal with said introducer sheath.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The adapter means of claim 19 further comprising: a resilient seal secured to said adapter means and having an opening for slidably receiving the balloon catheter therethrough and being formed of a resilient compliant material; and the opening in said sealing member forming a blood-tight sliding seal with said balloon catheter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said cutting member has a cutting edge positioned inwardly from the tapered surface of said cylindrical member whereby the introducer sheath is caused to be stretched and placed under tension as it is drawn over said tapered portion and before it reaches said cutting edge to facilitate the cutting and slitting operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said compliant sealing member is joined to the large diameter end of said adapter means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an annular mounting ring joined to said adapter means; and an elastic collar joined to said mounting ring and overlying said small diameter portion for tightening a portion of the introducer sheath overlying said small diameter portion and beneath said elastic collar to provide a blood-tight seal between the introducer sheath and the adapter means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an annular ring surrounding said adapter means and overlying the cutting edge to protect an operator from engaging the cutting edge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an enlarged portion integral with and overlying the cutting member to protect an operator from engaging the cutting edge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
Adapter means for use with a peel-apart introducer sheath and a balloon catheter, said adapter means comprising: a hollow, elongated rigid tube having an outwardly flared end; an annular shaped resilient compliant member having one end thereof mounted upon the flared end of said tube and having an internal annular slot for receiving the flared end of said tube; means for securing the engaging surfaces of said tube and said compliant member; said compliant member having an axial bore extending therethrough in communication with the hollow tube to permit the passage of a catheter therethrough; the end portion of said bore remote from the flared end of said tube having an inner diameter cooperating with the outer surface of said catheter to cooperatively from a sliding blood-tight seal therebetween; and the outer diameter of said tube remote from said flared end having a diameter which cooperates with the inner surface of said sheath to form a sliding blood-tight seal therebetween.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
160 words
Adapter means for use with a peel-apart introducer sheath and a balloon catheter, said adapter means comprising: a hollow, elongated rigid tube having an outwardly flared end; an annular shaped resilient compliant member having one end thereof mounted upon the flared end of said tube and having an internal annular slot for receiving the flared end of said tube; means for securing the engaging surfaces of said tube and said compliant member; said compliant member having an axial bore extending therethrough in communication with the hollow tube to permit the passage of a catheter therethrough; the end portion of said bore remote from the flared end of said tube having an inner diameter cooperating with the outer surface of said catheter to cooperatively from a sliding blood-tight seal therebetween; and the outer diameter of said tube remote from said flared end having a diameter which cooperates with the inner surface of said sheath to form a sliding blood-tight seal therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
The adapter means of claim 26 wherein the outer periphery of said compliant member is provided with an annular groove spaced from and arranged to surround said end portion providing the blood-tight sliding seal for receiving a suture which may be tightened about said compliant member to enhance the last-mentioned blood-tight sliding seal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sheath is provided with a pair of integral extensions, the free ends of said extensions being joined to form a loop to facilitate gripping by an operator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sheath is provided with a pre-cut slit extending inwardly a predetermined distance from one end of said sheath to facilitate gripping and/or splitting.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein one end of said sheath is provided with at least one integral extension to facilitate gripping of said sheath.