Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A venous catheter device comprising: an elongated flexible catheter tube having an outer wall, a proximal end and a longitudinally extending distal end portion with a catheter tube distal terminus for insertion into and capable of being fed longitudinally through a vein; at least three independent lumens extending through said catheter tube including a distal lumen, a middle lumen and a proximal lumen; each of said lumens having a wall, a proximal end and a lumen distal terminus formed in said longitudinally extending distal end portion; said lumen distal termini being spaced longitudinally from each other to define a diatal lumen distal terminus, a middle lumen distal terminus, and a proximal lumen distal terminus, respectively; at least two of said distal lumen termini cooperating with groove means located in the outer wall of said distal end portion and communicating with said at least two distal lumen termini for providing a flow-enhanced outflow path from said at least two distal lumen termini along the outer wall of said distal end portion, and each of the proximal ends of said lumens including lumen adapter means for permitting connection to independent fluid devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A venous catheter device comprising: an elongated flexible catheter tube having an outer wall, a proximal end and a longitudinally extending distal end portion with a catheter tube distal terminus for insertion into and capable of being fed longitudinally through a vein; at least three independent lumens extending through said catheter tube including a distal lumen, a middle lumen and a proximal lumen; each of said lumens having a wall, a proximal end and a lumen distal terminus formed in said longitudinally extending distal end portion; said lumen distal termini being spaced longitudinally from each other to define a diatal lumen distal terminus, a middle lumen distal terminus, and a proximal lumen distal terminus, respectively; at least two of said distal lumen termini cooperating with groove means located in the outer wall of said distal end portion and communicating with said at least two distal lumen termini for providing a flow-enhanced outflow path from said at least two distal lumen termini along the outer wall of said distal end portion, and each of the proximal ends of said lumens including lumen adapter means for permitting connection to independent fluid devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein said groove extends to the catheter tube distal terminus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the distal end portion adjacent the groove has a substantially reduced diameter relative to the diameter of the outer wall of the distal end portion proximal of the distal terminus of said respective lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein the distal terminus of one of said lumens is substantially coextensive with the distal terminus of said catheter tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein said groove means comprises at least two grooves, one of said grooves being continuous with a portion of the wall of said proximal lumen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein said groove means comprises at least two grooves, one of said grooves being continuous with a portion of the wall of said middle lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The venous catheter device of claim 1 wherein a first lumen terminus is spaced about one to three centimeters from the catheter tube distal terminus and a second lumen terminus is spaced about one to three centimeters from said first lumen terminus.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of constructing a venous catheter device comprising: forming an elongated flexible catheter tube having an outer wall, a proximal end, a longitudinally extending distal end portion, and a distal terminus; forming at least three independent lumens extending through the catheter tube including a distal lumen with a distal lumen terminus, a middle lumen and a proximal lumen, each having a proximal end; and forming a middle lumen distal terminus longitudinally spaced from the distal lumen terminus in the distal end portion of the catheter tube; forming a proximal lumen distal terminus in the distal end portion of the catheter tube longitudinally spaced from the middle lumen distal terminus; forming groove means in the outer wall of the distal end portion to communicate with said middle and proximal lumens for providing a flow-enhanced outflow path from the middle and proximal lumens along the longitudinal direction of the distal end portion of the catheter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of constructing a venous catheter device comprising: forming an elongated flexible catheter tube having an outer wall, a proximal end, a longitudinally extending distal end portion, and a distal terminus; forming at least three independent lumens extending through the catheter tube including a distal lumen with a distal lumen terminus, a middle lumen and a proximal lumen, each having a proximal end; and forming a middle lumen distal terminus longitudinally spaced from the distal lumen terminus in the distal end portion of the catheter tube; forming a proximal lumen distal terminus in the distal end portion of the catheter tube longitudinally spaced from the middle lumen distal terminus; forming groove means in the outer wall of the distal end portion to communicate with said middle and proximal lumens for providing a flow-enhanced outflow path from the middle and proximal lumens along the longitudinal direction of the distal end portion of the catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of forming the middle lumen distal terminus includes removing a section of the distal end portion of the catheter tube which longitudinally extends substantially from the catheter tube distal terminus to an area longitudinally spaced from the catheter tube distal terminus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of forming the proximal lumen distal terminus includes removing a section of the distal end portion of the catheter tube which longitudinally extends substantially from the catheter tube distal terminus to an area longitudinally spaced from the catheter tube distal terminus and the middle lumen distal terminus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of providing the proximal end of the lumens with lumen adapter means for connection to independent fluid devices.