Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A perfusion balloon catheter for use in combination with a guide wire to dilate a stenosed coronary artery, the perfusion balloon catheter comprising: an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen integral therewith, with the guide wire lumen having a generally bevelled opening at its distal end; a separate balloon head connected to a distal end of the shaft, the balloon head defining a relatively short blood flow channel, an open proximal end of the blood flow channel being defined by a generally bevelled opening which is opposite to, generally axially aligned with, and relatively closely longitudinally spaced from the bevelled opening at the distal end of the guide wire lumen, and the blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; a balloon mounted around the balloon head and defining a balloon interior which is in communication with a distal end of the inflation lumen; and a distal tip connected to and extending distally from the balloon, the distal tip having a central passage aligned with the blood flow channel to permit blood flow from the artery into the bevelled opening of the blood flow channel, through the blood flow channel and through the central passage while the balloon is inflated, and also to permit the guide wire to move through the bevelled opening of the blood flow channel, through the channel and through the central passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A perfusion balloon catheter for use in combination with a guide wire to dilate a stenosed coronary artery, the perfusion balloon catheter comprising: an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen integral therewith, with the guide wire lumen having a generally bevelled opening at its distal end; a separate balloon head connected to a distal end of the shaft, the balloon head defining a relatively short blood flow channel, an open proximal end of the blood flow channel being defined by a generally bevelled opening which is opposite to, generally axially aligned with, and relatively closely longitudinally spaced from the bevelled opening at the distal end of the guide wire lumen, and the blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; a balloon mounted around the balloon head and defining a balloon interior which is in communication with a distal end of the inflation lumen; and a distal tip connected to and extending distally from the balloon, the distal tip having a central passage aligned with the blood flow channel to permit blood flow from the artery into the bevelled opening of the blood flow channel, through the blood flow channel and through the central passage while the balloon is inflated, and also to permit the guide wire to move through the bevelled opening of the blood flow channel, through the channel and through the central passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The catheter of claim 1 and further comprising: a manifold connected to a proximal end of the shaft, the manifold including a guide wire port in communication with the guide wire lumen and an inflation port in communication with the inflation lumen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the manifold further includes a through port in communication with the guide wire lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the inflation lumen and the guide wire lumen are positioned side-by-side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal tip is generally tapered with a smaller diameter at its distal end than at its proximal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 5 wherein the distal tip has a greater flexibility than the balloon head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the balloon and the distal tip are an integral polymeric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the balloon has a distal segment bonded to a distal portion of the balloon head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 8 wherein the balloon has a proximal segment bonded to a distal portion of the shaft and a proximal portion of the balloon head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 9 wherein the distal portion of the shaft contains only the inflation lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein the distal portion of the shaft has a reduced cross-section with respect to other more proximal portions of the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein the proximal portion of the balloon head has a reduced outer dimension with respect to more distal portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 12 wherein the proximal portion of the balloon head and the distal portion of the shaft have mating surfaces which are bonded together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the balloon head comprises: a polymeric tube which has the blood flow channel extending therethrough; and reinforcing means for reinforcing the tube to prevent collapse of the tube which would restrict blood flow through the blood-flow channel during inflation of the balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein the reinforcing means comprises a helically wound coil bonded to the tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the coil is formed by a flat metal ribbon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the coil is bonded to an interior surface of the tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 14 and further comprising a low friction coating on an interior surface of the tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal tip further includes a side port therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1 and further comprising: means positioned adjacent the open distal end of the guide wire lumen for guiding a guide wire toward the open proximal end of the blood flow channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 20 wherein the means positioned adjacent the open distal end comprises a resilient flap attached to the shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein a leading edge of the bevelled opening of the blood flow channel extends into and overlaps a leading edge of the bevelled opening of the guide wire lumen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the blood flow channel is only slightly longer than the balloon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
156 words
A perfusion balloon catheter for use in combination with a guide wire to dilate a stenosed coronary artery, the perfusion balloon catheter comprising: an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen integral therewith; a separate balloon head connected to a distal end of the shaft, the balloon head defining a relatively short blood flow channel, an open proximal end of the blood flow channel being generally axially aligned with and relatively closely longitudinally spaced from an open distal end of the guide wire lumen, the balloon head including a polymeric tube which has the blood flow channel extending therethrough and reinforcing means for reinforcing the tube to prevent collapse of the tube, and with the blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; and a balloon mounted around the balloon head and defining a balloon interior which is in communication with the distal end of the inflation lumen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
156 words
A perfusion balloon catheter for use in combination with a guide wire to dilate a stenosed coronary artery, the perfusion balloon catheter comprising: an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen integral therewith; a separate balloon head connected to a distal end of the shaft, the balloon head defining a relatively short blood flow channel, an open proximal end of the blood flow channel being generally axially aligned with and relatively closely longitudinally spaced from an open distal end of the guide wire lumen, the balloon head including a polymeric tube which has the blood flow channel extending therethrough and reinforcing means for reinforcing the tube to prevent collapse of the tube, and with the blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; and a balloon mounted around the balloon head and defining a balloon interior which is in communication with the distal end of the inflation lumen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein the reinforcing means comprises a helically wound coil bonded to the tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein the coil is formed by a flat metal ribbon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein the coil is bonded to an interior surface of the tube.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 25 wherein the coil is formed by a radiopaque metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 24 and further comprising a low friction coating on an interior surface of the tube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein the balloon has a distal segment bonded to a distal portion of the balloon head.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 30 wherein the balloon has a proximal segment bonded to a distal portion of the shaft and a proximal portion of the balloon head.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 31 wherein the distal portion of the shaft contains only the inflation lumen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 32 wherein the distal portion of the shaft has a reduced cross-section with respect to other more proximal portions of the shaft.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 33 wherein the proximal portion of the balloon head has a reduced outer dimension with respect to more distal portions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 34 wherein the proximal portion of the balloon head and the distal portion of the shaft have mating surfaces which are bonded together.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein the balloon head has a bevelled opening at its proximal end.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein the guide wire lumen has a bevelled opening at its distal end.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 24 and further comprising: means positioned adjacent the open distal end of the guide wire lumen for guiding a guide wire toward the open proximal end of the blood flow channel.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 38 wherein the means positioned adjacent the open distal end comprises a resilient flap attached to the shaft.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein a leading edge of the open proximal end of the balloon head extends into and overlaps a leading edge of the open distal end of the guide wire lumen.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 24 wherein the blood flow channel is only slightly longer than the balloon.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of performing angioplasty, the method comprising: positioning a guide wire within a patient's body so that the guide wire crosses a stenosis; advancing a passive perfusion balloon catheter over the guide wire until a balloon of the catheter is positioned in the stenosis, the catheter including a balloon head on which the balloon is mounted and which provides a relatively short blood flow channel through which the guide wire extends, and a separate, relatively long shaft on which the balloon head is mounted which includes an inflation lumen connected to the balloon and an internal guide wire lumen through which the guide wire extends, with the relatively short blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; partially withdrawing the guide wire so that the guide wire is in the guide wire lumen but is not in the blood flow channel to permit perfusion of blood from the artery through the blood flow channel in a proximal to distal direction; and inflating the balloon.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of performing angioplasty, the method comprising: positioning a guide wire within a patient's body so that the guide wire crosses a stenosis; advancing a passive perfusion balloon catheter over the guide wire until a balloon of the catheter is positioned in the stenosis, the catheter including a balloon head on which the balloon is mounted and which provides a relatively short blood flow channel through which the guide wire extends, and a separate, relatively long shaft on which the balloon head is mounted which includes an inflation lumen connected to the balloon and an internal guide wire lumen through which the guide wire extends, with the relatively short blood flow channel having a larger cross-section than the guide wire lumen; partially withdrawing the guide wire so that the guide wire is in the guide wire lumen but is not in the blood flow channel to permit perfusion of blood from the artery through the blood flow channel in a proximal to distal direction; and inflating the balloon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 42 and further comprising: readvancing the guide wire from the guide wire lumen through the blood flow channel so that the guide wire once again extends across the stenosis; deflating the balloon; and withdrawing the catheter while leaving the guide wire in position in the patient's body.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 42, and further comprising the steps of: readvancing the guide wire from the guide wire lumen through the blood flow channel; and positively guiding a distal end of the guide wire into a proximal end of the blood flow channel as the guide wire is re-advanced.