Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of intraluminally treating an anatomic vessel, comprising the steps of: introducing a helically shaped vessel-constraining structure into an interior of a body to a position proximate to an exterior of a vessel wall around a diseased portion of said anatomic vessel; positioning said vessel-constraining structure substantially around said diseased portion thereby constraining a transverse dimension of said diseased portion; advancing a working end of a transluminal catheter to said diseased portion; and treating said diseased portion intraluminally with said working end of said transluminal catheter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of intraluminally treating an anatomic vessel, comprising the steps of: introducing a helically shaped vessel-constraining structure into an interior of a body to a position proximate to an exterior of a vessel wall around a diseased portion of said anatomic vessel; positioning said vessel-constraining structure substantially around said diseased portion thereby constraining a transverse dimension of said diseased portion; advancing a working end of a transluminal catheter to said diseased portion; and treating said diseased portion intraluminally with said working end of said transluminal catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said vessel-constraining structure comprises a spiral member defining a spiral gap and an interior bore, the positioning step including the steps of: disposing said diseased portion in said spiral gap; and helically and distally advancing said spiral member thereby positioning said diseased portion in said interior bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2, contemporaneous with the helically advancing step, the step of bluntly dissecting connective tissues in a plane around the exterior of the vessel wall with a blunt distal tip of the spiral member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, the positioning step including the step of contemporaneously viewing the positioning of the constraint with an imaging technology to insure the constraint is positioned in a particular location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treating step includes treating said diseased portion with a dilation-type catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the treating step includes the step of compacting an occlusion within said diseased portion by pressing said occlusion between an expansion portion of said dilation catheter and said vessel-constraining structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treating step includes treating said diseased portion with an atherectomy-type catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treating step includes treating said diseased portion with a placement of an intraluminal graft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treating step includes treating said diseased portion with a placement of an intraluminal stent.