Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis and defining an inflatable cavity; a first tubular member mounted in said balloon and providing a through-passage to receive said guidewire, said first tubular member opening at said proximal end of said balloon; a second tubular member external to said balloon and containing an inflation lumen in communication with said inflatable cavity, said inflation tureen being independent of said through-passage; a cylinder adapted to slide along said guidewire and to abut said proximal end of said balloon when said guidewire is inserted through said first tubular member; and an elongate rod affixed to said cylinder and having sufficient axial rigidity to permit pushing said cylinder and thereby said balloon along said guidewire through a bodily passage; said cylinder containing a first lumen sized to receive said guidewire and extending through both said cylinder and said elongate rod, and a second lumen sized to receive said second tubular member and extending only through said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis and defining an inflatable cavity; a first tubular member mounted in said balloon and providing a through-passage to receive said guidewire, said first tubular member opening at said proximal end of said balloon; a second tubular member external to said balloon and containing an inflation lumen in communication with said inflatable cavity, said inflation tureen being independent of said through-passage; a cylinder adapted to slide along said guidewire and to abut said proximal end of said balloon when said guidewire is inserted through said first tubular member; and an elongate rod affixed to said cylinder and having sufficient axial rigidity to permit pushing said cylinder and thereby said balloon along said guidewire through a bodily passage; said cylinder containing a first lumen sized to receive said guidewire and extending through both said cylinder and said elongate rod, and a second lumen sized to receive said second tubular member and extending only through said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said balloon including said proximal and distal ends is a maximum of about 6 cm in length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said second tubular member has a substantially lesser rigidity than said elongate rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said cylinder is from about 0.5 cm to about 35 cm in length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said cylinder is from about 15 cm to about 30 cm in length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which at least one of said lumens is slit longitudinally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said first lumen is slit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said first lumen by lateral separation from said cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said first lumen is shit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said first lumen by lateral separation from said cylinder, and said second lumen is slit longitudinally to permit lateral insertion of said second tubular member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said second tubular member has a non-circular cross section, and said second lumen has a cross section complementary to that of said second tubular member, to prevent rotation of said cylinder relative to said second tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
228 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon which is elongated in shape with a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends, said balloon having a first tubular member mounted therein and extending from said proximal end to said distal end to maintain elongation of said balloon and to provide a through-passage for said guidewire, said first tubular member open at said proximal end to the exterior of said catheter, said balloon further defining an inflatable cavity surrounding said first tubular member; a second tubular member external to said balloon and feeding said inflatable cavity through an inflation port at said proximal end of said balloon and adjacent to said first tubular member; and a cylinder mounted to an elongate rod, with a first lumen passing through said elongate rod and said cylinder to receive said guidewire and a second lumen passing through said cylinder to receive said second tubular member, said first lumen slit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said cylinder and said elongate rod by lateral separation from said first lumen, and said second lumen and said second tubular members having complementary non-circular cross sections such that when said second tubular member is received within said second lumen, said first lumen is maintained in alignment with said first tubular member and said cylinder abuts said proximal end of said balloon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
228 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon which is elongated in shape with a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends, said balloon having a first tubular member mounted therein and extending from said proximal end to said distal end to maintain elongation of said balloon and to provide a through-passage for said guidewire, said first tubular member open at said proximal end to the exterior of said catheter, said balloon further defining an inflatable cavity surrounding said first tubular member; a second tubular member external to said balloon and feeding said inflatable cavity through an inflation port at said proximal end of said balloon and adjacent to said first tubular member; and a cylinder mounted to an elongate rod, with a first lumen passing through said elongate rod and said cylinder to receive said guidewire and a second lumen passing through said cylinder to receive said second tubular member, said first lumen slit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said cylinder and said elongate rod by lateral separation from said first lumen, and said second lumen and said second tubular members having complementary non-circular cross sections such that when said second tubular member is received within said second lumen, said first lumen is maintained in alignment with said first tubular member and said cylinder abuts said proximal end of said balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
174 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis and defining an inflatable cavity; a first tubular member mounted in said balloon and providing a through-passage to receive said guidewire, said first tubular member opening at said proximal end of said balloon: a second tubular member external to said balloon and containing an inflation lumen in communication with said inflatable cavity, said inflation lumen being independent of said through-passage; a cylinder adapted to slide along said guidewire and to abut said proximal end of said balloon when said guidewire is inserted through said first tubular member; and an elongate rod affixed to said cylinder and having sufficient axial rigidity to permit pushing said cylinder and thereby said balloon along said guidewire through a bodily passage; said cylinder containing a first lumen sized to receive said guidewire and extending only through said cylinder, and a second lumen sized to receive said second tubular member and extending through both said cylinder and said elongate rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
174 words
A balloon-tipped catheter and guidewire system, comprising: a guidewire; a balloon having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis and defining an inflatable cavity; a first tubular member mounted in said balloon and providing a through-passage to receive said guidewire, said first tubular member opening at said proximal end of said balloon: a second tubular member external to said balloon and containing an inflation lumen in communication with said inflatable cavity, said inflation lumen being independent of said through-passage; a cylinder adapted to slide along said guidewire and to abut said proximal end of said balloon when said guidewire is inserted through said first tubular member; and an elongate rod affixed to said cylinder and having sufficient axial rigidity to permit pushing said cylinder and thereby said balloon along said guidewire through a bodily passage; said cylinder containing a first lumen sized to receive said guidewire and extending only through said cylinder, and a second lumen sized to receive said second tubular member and extending through both said cylinder and said elongate rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said balloon including said proximal and distal ends is a maximum of about 6 cm in length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said second tubular member has a substantially lesser rigidity than said elongate rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said cylinder is from about 0.5 cm to about 35 cm in length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said cylinder is from about 15 cm to about 30 cm in length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which at least one of said lumens is slit longitudinally.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said first lumen is slit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said first lumen by lateral separation from said cylinder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said first lumen is slit longitudinally to permit removal of said guidewire from said first lumen by lateral separation from said cylinder, and said second lumen is slit longitudinally to permit lateral insertion of said second tubular member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said second tubular member has a non-circular cross section, and said second lumen has a cross section complementary to that of said second tubular member, to prevent rotation of said cylinder relative to said second tubular member.