Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A combination catheter body and guiding member, said combination comprising: a catheter body with distal and proximal ends and a catheter body lumen open at both said distal and proximal ends; a tubular member having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal axis and sized to be received in said catheter body lumen, said tubular member having at least one tubular member lumen and a distal segment formed of elastic material inflatable from a relaxed condition in which said tubular member fits loosely in said catheter body lumen to an inflated condition in which said tubular member seizes said catheter body, said tubular member being closed at said distal end and having at least one port within approximately 1 cm of said distal end, said at least one port shaped and arranged to eject a stream of fluid in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis upon pressurization of said tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A combination catheter body and guiding member, said combination comprising: a catheter body with distal and proximal ends and a catheter body lumen open at both said distal and proximal ends; a tubular member having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal axis and sized to be received in said catheter body lumen, said tubular member having at least one tubular member lumen and a distal segment formed of elastic material inflatable from a relaxed condition in which said tubular member fits loosely in said catheter body lumen to an inflated condition in which said tubular member seizes said catheter body, said tubular member being closed at said distal end and having at least one port within approximately 1 cm of said distal end, said at least one port shaped and arranged to eject a stream of fluid in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis upon pressurization of said tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said at least one port is shaped and arranged to eject a stream of fluid in a direction of from about 60° to about 120° relative to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said at least one port is shaped and arranged to eject a stream of fluid in a direction of about 90° relative to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said at least one port has an axis intersecting said longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said at least one port has an axis which does not intersect said longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 comprising only one such port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular member comprises two or more such tubular member lumens and such ports are equal in number to said tubular member lumens, one port communicating with each tubular member lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular member comprises exactly two such tubular member lumens and exactly two such ports, one port communicating with each tubular member lumen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular member when in said relaxed condition exceeds said catheter body in length by at least about 1.0 cm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular member when in said relaxed condition exceeds said catheter body in length by from about 1.5 cm to about 10.0 cm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a source of pressurized fluid supplying said at least one tubular member lumen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination in accordance with claim 11 further comprising control means for varying the pressure of said pressurized fluid supplied to said at least one tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular member comprises two or more such tubular member lumens, a plurality of ports equal in number to said tubular member lumens, one port communicating with each tubular member lumen, a source of pressurized fluid supplying said tubular member lumens, and control means for individually controlling fluid pressure supply from said source of pressurized fluid to each of said tubular member lumens.