Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A catheter for the delivery of medicament into the wall of a tubular tissue within a patient comprising an elongate tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a body portion therebetween, said body portion having at least two lumens and an outer tissue-contacting surface substantially coextensive therewith, said outer tissue-contacting surface being dimensioned to fit within said tubular tissue and said tissue-contacting surface having at least one medicament dispensing opening therein, the proximal end of the catheter being bifurcated to form first and second projections, the first projection being in mechanical communication with said tissue-contacting surface and adapted to receive and matingly engage a vibrating element; the second projection providing a medicament injection port which is in fluid communication with at least one medicament dispensing opening; and wherein said vibrating element produces translational and/or rotational mechanical vibrations between 1-10,000 Hz.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A catheter for the delivery of medicament into the wall of a tubular tissue within a patient comprising an elongate tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a body portion therebetween, said body portion having at least two lumens and an outer tissue-contacting surface substantially coextensive therewith, said outer tissue-contacting surface being dimensioned to fit within said tubular tissue and said tissue-contacting surface having at least one medicament dispensing opening therein, the proximal end of the catheter being bifurcated to form first and second projections, the first projection being in mechanical communication with said tissue-contacting surface and adapted to receive and matingly engage a vibrating element; the second projection providing a medicament injection port which is in fluid communication with at least one medicament dispensing opening; and wherein said vibrating element produces translational and/or rotational mechanical vibrations between 1-10,000 Hz.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for the removal of obstruction in tubular tissue of a patient comprising, in combination: (a) an elongate tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit within said tubular tissue; and (b) the proximal end of the catheter being bifurcated to form at least two projections, a first projection having a lysing agent injection port therein and a second projection adapted to receive and matingly engage a vibrating element; and (c) the distal end of the catheter having at least one opening therein wherein said opening is in fluid communication with said lysing agent injection port and wherein at least a portion of said distal end is radiopaque.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for the removal of obstruction in tubular tissue of a patient comprising, in combination: (a) an elongate tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit within said tubular tissue; and (b) the proximal end of the catheter being bifurcated to form at least two projections, a first projection having a lysing agent injection port therein and a second projection adapted to receive and matingly engage a vibrating element; and (c) the distal end of the catheter having at least one opening therein wherein said opening is in fluid communication with said lysing agent injection port and wherein at least a portion of said distal end is radiopaque.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a source of mechanical vibration connected to said vibrating element to induce translational and/or rotational motion in said vibrating element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said source of mechanical vibration has an output between 1-1000 Hz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tubular tissue is a blood vessel and said obstruction is a blood clot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a reservoir for containing said lysing agent and a pump for metering said lysing agent into said lysing agent injection port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of removing a clot from an obstructed blood vessel comprising the steps of inserting the apparatus of claim 6 into said obstructed blood vessel until the distal tip is in juxtaposition with the clot then dispensing lysing agent into or around the clot while the distal tip is vibrating.