Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an interactional mechanism disposed on one side of the housing; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing on a side generally opposite to that of the interactional mechanism, wherein the balloon includes an integral flange structure which conforms to and is secured to an inner surface of the housing through an inflation aperture therein, whereby the balloon can be inflated through the lumen of the catheter body and the flange structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an interactional mechanism disposed on one side of the housing; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing on a side generally opposite to that of the interactional mechanism, wherein the balloon includes an integral flange structure which conforms to and is secured to an inner surface of the housing through an inflation aperture therein, whereby the balloon can be inflated through the lumen of the catheter body and the flange structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the housing includes an elongate aperture on the one side and the interactional mechanism includes a blade and a drive shaft for moving the blade past the aperture, said drive shaft being disposed in the lumen of the catheter body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A catheter as in claim 2, further comprising an isolation tube having a proximal end and a distal end and extending between the distal and proximal ends of the flexible catheter body, wherein said isolation tube is disposed inside the lumen of the catheter body to receive the drive shaft and is secured at its distal end to the housing to define an annular inflation lumen which is isolated from the interior of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable balloon includes at least two spaced-apart inflation chambers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable balloon consists of a single continuous chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a substantially rigid elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an isolation tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends, wherein the isolation tube is disposed inside the lumen of the catheter body so that an outer surface of the isolation tube and inner surface of the catheter body lumen together, define an annular inflation lumen and wherein the isolation tube is secured at its distal end to the proximal end of the housing to isolate the housing from the annular inflation lumen; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing and connected to the annular inflation lumen, whereby the balloon can be inflated by applying an inflation medium to the proximal end of the annular lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a substantially rigid elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an isolation tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends, wherein the isolation tube is disposed inside the lumen of the catheter body so that an outer surface of the isolation tube and inner surface of the catheter body lumen together, define an annular inflation lumen and wherein the isolation tube is secured at its distal end to the proximal end of the housing to isolate the housing from the annular inflation lumen; and an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing and connected to the annular inflation lumen, whereby the balloon can be inflated by applying an inflation medium to the proximal end of the annular lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the inflatable balloon includes an integral flange structure which is secured to the elongate housing through an inflation aperture therein, said flange structure defining an inflation path between the annular lumen and the interior of the balloon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the housing includes an elongate aperture on one side, a blade within the housing proximate the aperture, and a drive shaft for moving the blade past the aperture, said drive shaft being disposed in the lumen of the isolation tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the inflatable balloon includes at least two spaced-apart inflation chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the inflatable balloon consists of a single continuous chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an interactional mechanism disposed on one side of the housing; and an inflatable balloon composed of a thermoplastic and having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing on a side generally opposite to that of the interactional mechanisms wherein the balloon includes an integral flange structure which is disposed through an inflation aperture in the housing and which has been formed against an interior surface of the housing by the contact with a heated mandrel, whereby the flange conforms to said interior surface and the balloon can be inflated through the lumen of the catheter body and the flange structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A catheter comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body; an interactional mechanism disposed on one side of the housing; and an inflatable balloon composed of a thermoplastic and having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured to the housing on a side generally opposite to that of the interactional mechanisms wherein the balloon includes an integral flange structure which is disposed through an inflation aperture in the housing and which has been formed against an interior surface of the housing by the contact with a heated mandrel, whereby the flange conforms to said interior surface and the balloon can be inflated through the lumen of the catheter body and the flange structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter as in claim 11, wherein the housing includes an elongate aperture on the one side and the interaction mechanism includes a blade and a drive shaft for moving the blade past the aperture, said drive shaft being disposed in the lumen of the catheter body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A catheter as in claim 12, further comprising an isolation tube having a proximal end and a distal end extending between the distal and proximal ends of the flexible catheter body, wherein said isolation tube is disposed inside the lumen of the catheter body to receive the drive shaft and is secured at its distal end to the housing to define an annular inflation lumen which is isolated form the interior of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as in claim 11, wherein the inflatable balloon includes at least two spaced-apart inflation chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as in claim 11, wherein the inflatable balloon consists of a single continuous chamber.