US5507766A — Vascular dilatation instrument and catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 211 words

A vascular dilatation instrument comprising: an inner tube defining a first lumen extending between an open distal end and a proximal portion, an outer tube disposed coaxially around said inner tube, having a distal end retracted a predetermined distance from the distal end of said inner tube and a proximal portion, and defining a second lumen with the outside surface of said inner tube, an inflatable member having one end attached to said inner tube and another end attached to said outer tube, and defining an interior space in fluid communication with said second lumen, a first opening disposed in the proximal portion of said inner tube in communication with said first lumen, and a second opening disposed in the proximal portion of said outer tube in fluid communication with said second lumen, wherein at least one of said inner tube and said outer tube includes a main body section based on a superelastic metal tube and a distal section made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 211 words

A vascular dilatation instrument comprising: an inner tube defining a first lumen extending between an open distal end and a proximal portion, an outer tube disposed coaxially around said inner tube, having a distal end retracted a predetermined distance from the distal end of said inner tube and a proximal portion, and defining a second lumen with the outside surface of said inner tube, an inflatable member having one end attached to said inner tube and another end attached to said outer tube, and defining an interior space in fluid communication with said second lumen, a first opening disposed in the proximal portion of said inner tube in communication with said first lumen, and a second opening disposed in the proximal portion of said outer tube in fluid communication with said second lumen, wherein at least one of said inner tube and said outer tube includes a main body section based on a superelastic metal tube and a distal section made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 1 wherein said outer tube includes the superelastic metal tube and a synthetic resin tube covering the surface of said metal tube, said synthetic resin tube protruding beyond the distal end of said metal tube to form the distal section of said outer tube.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 1 wherein said inner tube includes the superelastic metal tube and a synthetic resin tube covering the surface of said superelastic metal tube, said synthetic resin tube protruding beyond the distal end of said superelastic metal tube to form the distal section of said inner tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 1 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a slit extending from the distal end toward the proximal end.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 1 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a plurality of perforations in the distal zone thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 4 wherein said slit is a spiral slit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 6 wherein the width of said spiral slit in an intermediate region between the distal and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone is an intermediate value between a distal end and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 6 wherein the pitch of said slit is decreased stepwise from a distal end of said deformable distal zone toward a proximal end of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 6 wherein said spiral slit is gradually reduced in pitch toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 6 wherein said spiral slit is gradually increased in width toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 127 words

A vascular dilatation instrument comprising: a tubular member having a lumen therethrough and an opening in fluid communication with said lumen, a leading head, and an inflatable member having one end attached to said tubular member and another end attached to said leading head and defining an interior space in fluid communication with said lumen through said opening, said tubular member including a main body portion based on a superelastic metal tube and a distal portion made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 127 words

A vascular dilatation instrument comprising: a tubular member having a lumen therethrough and an opening in fluid communication with said lumen, a leading head, and an inflatable member having one end attached to said tubular member and another end attached to said leading head and defining an interior space in fluid communication with said lumen through said opening, said tubular member including a main body portion based on a superelastic metal tube and a distal portion made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 11 further comprising an elastic shaft extending through said lumen and having a distal end connected to said leading head.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 11 wherein said tubular member includes the superelastic metal tube and a synthetic resin tube covering the surface of said metal tube, said synthetic resin tube protruding beyond the distal end of said metal tube to form the distal portion of said tubular member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 11 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a slit extending from the distal end toward the proximal end thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 11 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a plurality of perforations in the distal zone thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 11 wherein the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is more flexible at the distal end than at the proximal end of the zone.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 14 wherein said slit is a spiral slit.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 46 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 17 wherein the width of said spiral slit in an intermediate region between the distal and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone is an intermediate value between a distal end and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 17 wherein the pitch of said slit is decreased stepwise from a distal end of said deformable distal zone toward a proximal end of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 17 wherein said spiral slit is gradually reduced in pitch toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 17 wherein said spiral slit is gradually increased in width toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 76 words

A catheter comprising: a main body section including a superelastic metal tube and a synthetic resin layer covering said metal tube, and a distal section made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 76 words

A catheter comprising: a main body section including a superelastic metal tube and a synthetic resin layer covering said metal tube, and a distal section made of a synthetic resin, the superelastic metal tube including a deformable distal zone which is more flexible than the remainder of the metal tube, and the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is gradually increased in flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end of the zone.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

A catheter according to claim 22 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a slit extending from the distal end toward the proximal end thereof.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

A catheter according to claim 23 wherein said slit is a spiral slit.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 44 words

A catheter according to claim 24 wherein the width of said spiral slit in an intermediate region between the distal and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone is an intermediate value between a distal end and proximal ends of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

A catheter according to claim 24 wherein the pitch of said slit is decreased stepwise from a distal end of said deformable distal zone toward a proximal end of said deformable distal zone.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

A catheter according to claim 24 wherein said spiral slit is gradually reduced in pitch toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

A catheter according to claim 24 wherein said spiral slit is gradually increased in width toward the distal end of said metal tube.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

A catheter according to claim 22 wherein said superelastic metal tube is provided with a plurality of perforations in the distal zone thereof.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

A catheter according to claim 22 wherein the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is more flexible at the distal end than at the proximal end of the zone.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

A vascular dilatation instrument according to claim 1 wherein the deformable distal zone of said superelastic metal tube is more flexible at the distal end than at the proximal end of the zone.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-04-16	1999-10-16	2000-04-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-04-16	2003-10-16	2004-04-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-04-16	2007-10-16	2008-04-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vascular dilatation instrument and catheter

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