US5630797A — Everting catheter system and method of utilizing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

In an everting catheter useable with an elongated instrument wherein the everting catheter includes an elongated outer tubular body having an outer body lumen and an opening leading from the outer body lumen, an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having an inner body lumen adapted to receive the instrument, and an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted, the improvement comprising: coupling means on the outer body and cooperable with the instrument for retaining the instrument in the inner body lumen in a substantially fixed longitudinal position relative to the outer body.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 125 words

In an everting catheter useable with an elongated instrument wherein the everting catheter includes an elongated outer tubular body having an outer body lumen and an opening leading from the outer body lumen, an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having an inner body lumen adapted to receive the instrument, and an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted, the improvement comprising: coupling means on the outer body and cooperable with the instrument for retaining the instrument in the inner body lumen in a substantially fixed longitudinal position relative to the outer body.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a clip coupled to the outer body and couplable to the instrument to fix the instrument in said longitudinal position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 42 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes an elongated handle coupled to said outer body and an attachment portion on said elongated handle cooperable with the instrument for retaining the instrument in said fixed longitudinal position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 125 words

In an everting catheter system which includes an elongated outer tubular body having an outer body lumen and an opening leading from the outer body lumen, an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having an inner body lumen, an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted, and an elongated instrument moveable longitudinally in the inner body lumen relative to the inner body, the improvement comprising: a coupling coupled to the outer body for releasably coupling the instrument to the outer body in a substantially fixed longitudinal position with respect to the outer body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 125 words

In an everting catheter system which includes an elongated outer tubular body having an outer body lumen and an opening leading from the outer body lumen, an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having an inner body lumen, an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted, and an elongated instrument moveable longitudinally in the inner body lumen relative to the inner body, the improvement comprising: a coupling coupled to the outer body for releasably coupling the instrument to the outer body in a substantially fixed longitudinal position with respect to the outer body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

An improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said coupling includes a clip coupled to the outer body and releasably couplable to the instrument.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

An improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said coupling includes an elongated handle coupled to the outer body, a releasable attachment portion disposed on the elongated handle, and a releasable attachment portion disposed on the instrument for releasably retaining the instrument in said substantially fixed longitudinal position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

An improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein the attachment portion of the elongated handle is at a location along said elongated handle, and said attachment portion on the elongated handle and the attachment portion on the instrument are responsive to the movement of said instrument to bring the attachment portion of said instrument to the attachment portion of said elongated handle to retain the instrument in said substantially fixed longitudinal position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

An improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein the elongated handle further includes a longitudinal passage in communication with the outer body lumen, said instrument being receivable in said elongated handle passage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

An improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein the elongated handle further includes an elongated longitudinally extending slot and the attachment portion of the instrument is slideable in said slot.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

An improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein the coupling includes means responsive to movement of the inner body proximally to a predetermined location to decouple and to allow movement of the instrument relative to the outer body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

An improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein the coupling includes means responsive to movement of the instrument distally to said substantially fixed longitudinal position to releasably couple the instrument to the outer body in said substantially fixed longitudinal position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

An improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein the instrument includes a transfer catheter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 142 words

An everting catheter comprising: an elongated outer tubular body having a proximal end portion, an outer body lumen and a distal opening leading from the outer body lumen; an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having a proximal end portion, an inner body fitting coupled to the proximal end portion of the inner body and an inner body lumen adapted to receive an elongated instrument; an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted; an elongated handle coupled to the proximal end portion of the outer body and having a longitudinal handle passage communicating with the outer body lumen; and said inner body fitting being slidable longitudinally in the handle passage.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 142 words

An everting catheter comprising: an elongated outer tubular body having a proximal end portion, an outer body lumen and a distal opening leading from the outer body lumen; an elongated inner tubular body moveable longitudinally in the outer body lumen and having a proximal end portion, an inner body fitting coupled to the proximal end portion of the inner body and an inner body lumen adapted to receive an elongated instrument; an everting element coupled to the outer body and the inner body so that with movement of the inner body longitudinally in the outer body lumen the everting element can be everted and inverted; an elongated handle coupled to the proximal end portion of the outer body and having a longitudinal handle passage communicating with the outer body lumen; and said inner body fitting being slidable longitudinally in the handle passage.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the handle has a longitudinal slot.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 14 wherein the handle has a proximal end and the slot extends from the proximal end of the handle distally for a major length of the handle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 14 wherein the handle has a distal end, generally opposed surfaces which define said slot and generally opposed recesses in said surfaces, said recesses being spaced proximally from the distal end of the handle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 16 wherein said slot is narrower distally of said recesses than proximally of said recesses.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 70 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 16 wherein a projecting portion of the inner body fitting projects out of said slot to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of the inner body fitting in said handle passage and said recesses are spaced proximally of the distal end of the handle sufficiently to permit said projecting portion of the inner body fitting along said slot to be located distally of said recesses.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 37 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 14 including an outer body fitting coupling the handle to the outer body and said handle includes an elongated substantially cylindrical tube having said handle passage and said slot therein.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the inner body fitting has a passage communicating with the inner body lumen.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

An everting catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the outer body has a distal end portion which is curved.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-05-19	2000-11-18	2001-05-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-05-19	2004-11-18	2005-05-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-05-19	2008-11-18	2009-05-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Everting catheter system and method of utilizing the same

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag