Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A catheter assembly which comprises: a catheter having a distal, insertion end and a proximal, base end, said catheter defining an internal lumen having a diameter and being open through the insertion end and base end, said catheter containing a first side hole adjacent to the insertion end, the first side hole being in fluid communication with the lumen; and a needle received within the lumen of said catheter, said needle having a sharp, distal end and a proximal, chamber end, said needle defining an internal passageway closed at the sharp end and open through the chamber end, said needle having an outer diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the lumen of said catheter, said needle defining a side hole adjacent to the sharp end and in fluid communication with the internal passageway, said needle and catheter having a first position with the sharp end of said needle extending outwardly beyond the distal and of said catheter and with the side hole of said needle being in fluid communication with the side hole of said catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A catheter assembly which comprises: a catheter having a distal, insertion end and a proximal, base end, said catheter defining an internal lumen having a diameter and being open through the insertion end and base end, said catheter containing a first side hole adjacent to the insertion end, the first side hole being in fluid communication with the lumen; and a needle received within the lumen of said catheter, said needle having a sharp, distal end and a proximal, chamber end, said needle defining an internal passageway closed at the sharp end and open through the chamber end, said needle having an outer diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the lumen of said catheter, said needle defining a side hole adjacent to the sharp end and in fluid communication with the internal passageway, said needle and catheter having a first position with the sharp end of said needle extending outwardly beyond the distal and of said catheter and with the side hole of said needle being in fluid communication with the side hole of said catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the sharp end of said needle is beveled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said needle has only one side hole adjacent to the sharp end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for axial alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for circumferential alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein a flash chamber suitable for viewing fluid received from the first side hole of said catheter is in fluid communication with the chamber end of said needle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter assembly of claim 4 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for circumferential alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
279 words
A method for introducing a catheter through a cavity wall and into a cavity comprising the following: (a) providing a catheter having a distal, insertion end and a proximal, base end, said catheter defining an internal lumen having a diameter and being open through the insertion end and base end, said catheter containing a first side hole adjacent to the insertion end, the first side hole being in fluid communication with the lumen; a needle received within the lumen of said catheter, said needle having a sharp, distal end and a proximal, chamber end, said needle defining an internal passageway closed at the sharp end and open through the chamber end, said needle having an outer diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the lumen of said catheter, said needle defining a side hole adjacent to the sharp end and in fluid communication with the internal passageway, said needle and catheter having a first position with the sharp end of said needle extending outwardly beyond the distal end of said catheter and with the side hole of said needle being in fluid communication with the side hole of said catheter; and a flash chamber in fluid communication with the chamber end of said needle and suitable for viewing fluid that has flowed out of the chamber end of said needle; (b) positioning the catheter assembly at a site of entry for the cavity wall with the side holes directed away from the cavity wall; (c) piercing through the cavity wall at the site of entry with the sharp end of the needle; and (d) advancing the catheter assembly until fluid is seen to flow into the flash chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
279 words
A method for introducing a catheter through a cavity wall and into a cavity comprising the following: (a) providing a catheter having a distal, insertion end and a proximal, base end, said catheter defining an internal lumen having a diameter and being open through the insertion end and base end, said catheter containing a first side hole adjacent to the insertion end, the first side hole being in fluid communication with the lumen; a needle received within the lumen of said catheter, said needle having a sharp, distal end and a proximal, chamber end, said needle defining an internal passageway closed at the sharp end and open through the chamber end, said needle having an outer diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the lumen of said catheter, said needle defining a side hole adjacent to the sharp end and in fluid communication with the internal passageway, said needle and catheter having a first position with the sharp end of said needle extending outwardly beyond the distal end of said catheter and with the side hole of said needle being in fluid communication with the side hole of said catheter; and a flash chamber in fluid communication with the chamber end of said needle and suitable for viewing fluid that has flowed out of the chamber end of said needle; (b) positioning the catheter assembly at a site of entry for the cavity wall with the side holes directed away from the cavity wall; (c) piercing through the cavity wall at the site of entry with the sharp end of the needle; and (d) advancing the catheter assembly until fluid is seen to flow into the flash chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the method includes: (e) removing the needle from said catheter assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the sharp end of said needle is beveled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said needle has only one side hole adjacent to the sharp end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for axial alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for circumferential alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the chamber end of said needle and the base end of said catheter include means for circumferential alignment of said needle and said catheter in the first position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter assembly of claim 8 in which the cavity is a vascular cavity.