Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A catheter sheath introducer for use in introducing a catheter into the body vessel and comprising: a tubular housing having proximal and distal ends and having a passageway extending through said proximal and distal ends and the housing for slideably receiving an elongated catheter so that the catheter may pass through the housing from said proximal end to said distal end before introduction into a said body vessel; a tubular cannula extending from the distal end of said housing but not directly connected to said housing and adapted to be inserted into a said body vessel and being in communication with said passageway so that said catheter may slideably extend through the distal end of said housing and thence through said cannula and into a said body vessel; flexible coupling means connecting a first end of said cannula with said housing at the distal end thereof without any significant overlap between said first end and said housing and in such a manner that said cannula may be angularly displaced with respect to the distal end of said housing, without any bending of said cannula so that said cannula does not deform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter sheath introducer for use in introducing a catheter into the body vessel and comprising: a tubular housing having proximal and distal ends and having a passageway extending through said proximal and distal ends and the housing for slideably receiving an elongated catheter so that the catheter may pass through the housing from said proximal end to said distal end before introduction into a said body vessel; a tubular cannula extending from the distal end of said housing but not directly connected to said housing and adapted to be inserted into a said body vessel and being in communication with said passageway so that said catheter may slideably extend through the distal end of said housing and thence through said cannula and into a said body vessel; flexible coupling means connecting a first end of said cannula with said housing at the distal end thereof without any significant overlap between said first end and said housing and in such a manner that said cannula may be angularly displaced with respect to the distal end of said housing, without any bending of said cannula so that said cannula does not deform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A catheter sheath introducer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible coupling means includes a ball and socket arrangement including a ball member and a socket member with one of said members being carried by said housing and the other of said members being carried by a first end of said cannula.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A catheter sheath introducer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ball member has a passageway extending therethrough and which is in communication with that of said housing and of said cannula so that a said catheter may be slideably received and passed therethrough before introduction into a said body vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter introducer as set forth in claim 3 wherein said ball member is caried by said first end of said cannula and said socket member is carried by said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A catheter sheath introducer as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing has inwardly facing walls which are curved to define said socket member having a curvature corresponding with that of said ball member for receiving said ball member in such a manner that said ball member may rotate within said socket member without being dislodged from said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter sheath introducer as set forth in claim 5 including ball retaining means located within said housing intermediate said socket member and the proximal end of said housing for retaining said ball member in place within said socket member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ball retaining means is an annular ring extending radially inward from the inner walls of said housing and integral therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said passageway extending through said ball member flares outwardly in a conical fashion to form a funnel-like opening facing the proximal end of said housing for receiving and guiding the distal end of a said catheter as it is being passed through said ball member into said cannula.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the distal end of said housing has a circular opening of a diameter substantially greater than that of said cannula permitting said ball member to rotate within said socket member while permitting angular displacement of said cannula relative to the distal end of said housing without bending said cannula itself.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A catheter sheath introducer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said opening in said distal end of said housing is of a diameter corresponding essentially with that of said funnel opening in said ball member.