Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A lockable guidewire comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter; and (f) a means for retaining and releasing the radially expanding means within the locking section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A lockable guidewire comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter; and (f) a means for retaining and releasing the radially expanding means within the locking section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The lockable guidewire of claim 1 wherein the means for retaining and releasing is a hypotube which is slidable between the distal end of the locking section surrounding the radially expanding means and the proximal end of the locking section uncovering and releasing the radially expanding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lockable guidewire according to claim 2 further comprising a marker on the hypotube to indicate when a catheter surrounding the guidewire has been withdrawn to a position proximal to the radially expanding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a lockable guidewire according to claim 1; and (b) a guiding catheter wherein the guiding catheter is lined with a means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter system according to claim 4 wherein the means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means is a threaded means complementary to the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a guiding catheter with an inside surface; (b) providing a lockable guidewire according to claim 1; (c) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (d) moving the retaining means of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the inside surface of the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a catheter system according to claim 4; (b) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (c) moving the retaining means of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the means for frictional engagement lining the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A lockable guidewire used in conjunction with a guiding catheter to facilitate the exchange of a balloon catheter comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter such that the guidewire position is maintained relative to the guiding catheter; and (f) a means for retaining and releasing the radially expanding means within the locking section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
A lockable guidewire used in conjunction with a guiding catheter to facilitate the exchange of a balloon catheter comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter such that the guidewire position is maintained relative to the guiding catheter; and (f) a means for retaining and releasing the radially expanding means within the locking section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The lockable guidewire according to claim 8 wherein the means for retaining and releasing is a hypotube which is slidable between the distal end of the locking section surrounding the radially expanding means and the proximal end of the locking section uncovering and releasing the radially expanding means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lockable guidewire according to claim 9 further comprising a marker on the hypotube to indicate when a catheter surrounding the guidewire has been withdrawn to a position proximal to the radially expanding means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a lockable guidewire according to claim 8; and (b) a guiding catheter wherein the guiding catheter is lined with a means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter system according to claim 11 wherein the means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means is a threaded means complementary to the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a guiding catheter with an inside surface; (b) providing a lockable guidewire according to claim 8; (c) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (d) moving the retaining means of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the inside surface of the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a catheter system according to claim 11; (b) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (c) moving the retaining means of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the means for frictional engagement lining the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A lockable guidewire comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter; and (f) a hypotube which is slidable between the distal end of the locking section surrounding the radially expanding means and the proximal end of the locking section uncovering and releasing the radially expanding means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
128 words
A lockable guidewire comprising: (a) a proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a locking section with a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a distal section with a proximal end and a distal end; (d) the distal end of the proximal section is contiguous with the proximal end of the locking section, the distal end of the locking section is contiguous with the proximal end of the distal section; (e) the locking section having a radially expanding means for anchoring the lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter; and (f) a hypotube which is slidable between the distal end of the locking section surrounding the radially expanding means and the proximal end of the locking section uncovering and releasing the radially expanding means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lockable guidewire according to claim 15 further comprising a marker on the hypotube to indicate when a catheter surrounding the guidewire has been withdrawn to a position proximal to the radially expanding means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a lockable guidewire according to claim 15; and (b) a guiding catheter wherein the guiding catheter is lined with a means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter system according to claim 17 wherein the means for frictional engagement with the radially expanding means is a threaded means complementary to the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A catheter system comprising: (a) a lockable guidewire according to claim 15; and (b) a guiding catheter wherein the guiding catheter is lined with a threaded means complementary to the radially expanding means for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a guiding catheter with an inside surface; (b) providing a lockable guidewire according to claim 15; (c) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (d) moving the hypotube of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the inside surface of the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a catheter system according to claim 17; (b) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (c) moving the retaining means of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the means for frictional engagement lining the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of anchoring a lockable guidewire within a guiding catheter comprising the following steps: (a) providing a catheter system according to claim 19; (b) inserting the lockable guidewire in the guiding catheter; (c) moving the hypotube of the lockable guidewire to release the radially expanding means that engages the threaded means lining the guiding catheter for mechanically holding the lockable guidewire in place.