Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A catheter for use in the venous drainage of blood during surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising: a first diameter catheter portion forming the distal end of the catheter, said first diameter portion being suitable for placement within a vena cava, and said first diameter portion being provided with a plurality of drainage openings suitable for draining blood; a second diameter catheter portion forming the proximal end of said catheter, said second diameter portion being in fluid communication with the first diameter portion, said second diameter catheter portion having a larger diameter than the first diameter portion, said second diameter portion being provided with drainage openings suitable for draining blood, and further being provided with reinforcement means for reinforcing a section of the second diameter catheter portion surrounding the drainage openings, the reinforcement means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcing material, the drainage openings being punched through said layer of reinforcing material; and a transistion catheter portion between the first and second diameter portions forming a smooth transition between said first and second diameter portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A catheter for use in the venous drainage of blood during surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising: a first diameter catheter portion forming the distal end of the catheter, said first diameter portion being suitable for placement within a vena cava, and said first diameter portion being provided with a plurality of drainage openings suitable for draining blood; a second diameter catheter portion forming the proximal end of said catheter, said second diameter portion being in fluid communication with the first diameter portion, said second diameter catheter portion having a larger diameter than the first diameter portion, said second diameter portion being provided with drainage openings suitable for draining blood, and further being provided with reinforcement means for reinforcing a section of the second diameter catheter portion surrounding the drainage openings, the reinforcement means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcing material, the drainage openings being punched through said layer of reinforcing material; and a transistion catheter portion between the first and second diameter portions forming a smooth transition between said first and second diameter portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said catheter is of unitary one-piece construction and having a smooth bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 2, wherein said catheter is formed from a relatively soft material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 3, further comprising coiled wire reinforcement secured within the body of said catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 4, wherein the wire reinforcement is provided substantially along the length of the catheter except where the respective drainage openings and reinforcement means are provided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 5, wherein the wire reinforcement terminates sufficiently short of the proximal end of the catheter so as to permit said proximal end to be clamped during insertion of the catheter and connected to an extracorporeal bypass system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein the area of said catheter which is to be clamped is provided with reinforcement means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcement material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein the second diameter portion has a diameter sufficiently large that said second diameter portion will not readily enter into the vena cava, and wherein the drainage openings in the second diameter portion are situated so as to be substantially centered in the right atrium when the catheter is inserted fully into the vena cava.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
A catheter for use in the venous drainage of blood during surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising: a first diameter catheter portion forming the distal end of the catheter, said first diameter portion being suitable for placement within a vena cava, and said first diameter portion being provided with a plurality of drainage openings suitable for draining blood; a second diameter catheter portion forming the proximal end of said catheter, said second diameter portion being in fluid communication with the first diameter portion and having a diameter sufficiently large that said second diameter portion will not readily enter into the vena cava, said second diameter portion being provided with drainage openings suitable for draining blood, and further being provided with reinforcement means for reinforcing a section of the second diameter catheter portion surrounding the drainage openings, the reinforcement means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcing material, the drainage openings being punched through said layer of reinforcing material; and a transition catheter portion between the first and second diameter portions forming a smooth transition between said first and second diameter portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
A catheter for use in the venous drainage of blood during surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising: a first diameter catheter portion forming the distal end of the catheter, said first diameter portion being suitable for placement within a vena cava, and said first diameter portion being provided with a plurality of drainage openings suitable for draining blood; a second diameter catheter portion forming the proximal end of said catheter, said second diameter portion being in fluid communication with the first diameter portion and having a diameter sufficiently large that said second diameter portion will not readily enter into the vena cava, said second diameter portion being provided with drainage openings suitable for draining blood, and further being provided with reinforcement means for reinforcing a section of the second diameter catheter portion surrounding the drainage openings, the reinforcement means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcing material, the drainage openings being punched through said layer of reinforcing material; and a transition catheter portion between the first and second diameter portions forming a smooth transition between said first and second diameter portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 9, wherein said catheter is of unitary one-piece construction and having a smooth bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 10, wherein said catheter is formed from a relatively soft material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 11, further comprising coiled wire reinforcement secured within the body of said catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 12, wherein the wire reinforcement is provided substantailly along the length of the catheter except where the respective drainage openings and reinforcement means are provided.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 13, wherein the wire reinforcement terminates sufficiently short of the proximal end of the catheter so as to permit said proximal end to be clamped during insertion of the catheter and connected to an extracorporeal bypass system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 14, wherein the area of said catheter which is to be clamped is provided with reinforcment means comprising a substantially continuous layer of a reinforcement material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A venous return catheter as defined in claim 9, wherein the drainage openings in the second diameter portion are situated so as to be substantially centered in the right atrium when the catheter is fully inserted into the vena cava.