Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for depositing biological matter in a fallopian tube of a female mammal which comprises the steps of: providing a delivery catheter having a collection chamber with an ejection port and an actuator port; placing said biological matter in said collection chamber; inserting a portion of said collection chamber including said ejection port through a body orifice into said fallopian tube; introducing a displacement fluid into said collection chamber via said actuator port; displacing said biological matter from said collection chamber with said displacement fluid into said fallopian tube via said ejection part; and withdrawing said delivery catheter from said body orifice.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for depositing biological matter in a fallopian tube of a female mammal which comprises the steps of: providing a delivery catheter having a collection chamber with an ejection port and an actuator port; placing said biological matter in said collection chamber; inserting a portion of said collection chamber including said ejection port through a body orifice into said fallopian tube; introducing a displacement fluid into said collection chamber via said actuator port; displacing said biological matter from said collection chamber with said displacement fluid into said fallopian tube via said ejection part; and withdrawing said delivery catheter from said body orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said portion of said collection chamber is steered into said fallopian tube with a guide means operatively engageable with said collection chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said guide means comprises a guide wire, prepositionable through said orifice and into said fallopian tube; and a tube associated with said collection chamber, said tube having a lumen for slidably receiving said guide wire therethrough to advance said chamber along said guide wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said collection chamber comprises a hollow tube having an open end and a closed end, said ejection port being positioned adjacent said closed end of said tube and said open end of said tube defining said actuator port; and said guide means comprises a flexible member extending lengthwise from said collection chamber for positioning said collection chamber in said fallopian tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising introducing a transport fluid into said collection chamber before introducing said displacement fluid into said collection chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising introducing a transport fluid into said collection chamber before placing said biological matter in said collection chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein sad transport fluid and said displacement fluid have substantially the same composition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said transport fluid is displaced into said fallopian tube with said biological matter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said body orifice is a vagina.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said biological matter is a zygote or a gamete.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said displacement fluid is introduced into said collection chamber from a syringe in fluid communication with said actuator port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said biological matter is placed in said collection chamber proximal said ejection port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said biological matter is placed in said collection chamber via said ejection port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said biological matter is placed in said collection chamber via said ejection port by withdrawing a portion of said transport fluid from said collection chamber via said actuator port with a syringe while said biological matter is maintained in fluid communication with said ejection port, thereby drawing said biological matter into said collection chamber through said ejection port.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said syringe operatively engages said actuator port.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for depositing biological matter in a fallopian tube of a female mammal which comprises the steps of: providing a delivery catheter having a collection chamber with an ejection port and an actuator port; introducing a transport fluid into said collection chamber; placing said biological matter in said collection chamber proximal said ejection port by withdrawing a portion of said transport fluid from said collection chamber via said actuator port with a syringe in operative engagement with said actuator port while said biological matter is maintained in fluid communication with said ejection port, thereby drawing said biological matter into said collection chamber through said ejection port; inserting a portion of said collection chamber including said ejection port through a body orifice into said fallopian tube; introducing a displacement fluid with said syringe into said collection chamber via said actuator port; displacing said biological matter from said collection chamber with said displacement fluid into said fallopian tube via said ejection port; and withdrawing said delivery catheter from said body orifice.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for depositing biological matter in a fallopian tube of a female mammal which comprises the steps of: providing a delivery catheter having a collection chamber with an ejection port and an actuator port; introducing a transport fluid into said collection chamber; placing said biological matter in said collection chamber proximal said ejection port by withdrawing a portion of said transport fluid from said collection chamber via said actuator port with a syringe in operative engagement with said actuator port while said biological matter is maintained in fluid communication with said ejection port, thereby drawing said biological matter into said collection chamber through said ejection port; inserting a portion of said collection chamber including said ejection port through a body orifice into said fallopian tube; introducing a displacement fluid with said syringe into said collection chamber via said actuator port; displacing said biological matter from said collection chamber with said displacement fluid into said fallopian tube via said ejection port; and withdrawing said delivery catheter from said body orifice.