US5807236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter with guidewire and rounded enlargement and method
Assignee: Credit Suisse First Boston Management LLC
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Filing: 1996-04-08
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A catheter comprising an elongated catheter body having a distal end and an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends. The guidewire includes a rounded enlargement between the ends of the guidewire. The guidewire is mounted on the catheter body for movement longitudinally relative to the catheter body between a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven R. Bacich
- 👤 Tuoc Tan Nguyen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/012; A61B1/018; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00087; A61B1/303; A61B1/32; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61B17/00; A61B17/42; A61B2017/4233; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09175; A61M2025/09183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire; said guidewire being mounted on the catheter body for movement longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and a controller carried by the catheter body for use in moving the guidewire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire; said guidewire being mounted on the catheter body for movement longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and a controller carried by the catheter body for use in moving the guidewire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the rounded enlargement is spaced at least 5 mm proximally of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the rounded enlargement is spaced at least 10 centimeters proximally of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the catheter body has a guidewire lumen and the guidewire is at least partially received in the guidewire lumen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the catheter body has a working lumen opening at the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a medical instrument or fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the catheter body has a longitudinally extending slot communicating with the guidewire lumen, said controller is movable longitudinally in said slot and is coupled to the guidewire, and said slot has proximal and distal ends defining, respectively, proximal and distal stops for said controller.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for viewing an interior passage of a patient comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end and working and guidewire lumens opening at the distal end; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire; said guidewire being carried by the catheter body and being at least partially received in the guidewire lumen, said guidewire being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and an elongated endoscope in the working lumen.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for viewing an interior passage of a patient comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end and working and guidewire lumens opening at the distal end; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire; said guidewire being carried by the catheter body and being at least partially received in the guidewire lumen, said guidewire being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and an elongated endoscope in the working lumen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter as defined in claim 7 wherein the enlargement is spaced at least 5 mm proximally of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 7 wherein the enlargement is spaced at least about 10 centimeters proximally of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as defined in claim 7 including a controller carried by the catheter body for use in moving the guidewire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end, a lumen opening at the distal end and an elongated guidewire movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body and having a distal end and a rounded enlargement spaced proximally from the distal end of the guidewire, said method comprising: placing the guidewire and catheter body into the interior passage in the patient; advancing the guidewire and the catheter body in the interior passage of the patient with the guidewire guiding the advancing movement of the catheter body and with the enlargement relatively close to the distal end of the catheter body to aid the advancing movement of the catheter body in the interior passage; relatively moving the guidewire and the catheter body to move the enlargement farther distally of the distal end of the catheter body following at least a portion of the step of advancing the catheter body; providing an endoscope in the lumen of the catheter body; relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the enlargement; and viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end, a lumen opening at the distal end and an elongated guidewire movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body and having a distal end and a rounded enlargement spaced proximally from the distal end of the guidewire, said method comprising: placing the guidewire and catheter body into the interior passage in the patient; advancing the guidewire and the catheter body in the interior passage of the patient with the guidewire guiding the advancing movement of the catheter body and with the enlargement relatively close to the distal end of the catheter body to aid the advancing movement of the catheter body in the interior passage; relatively moving the guidewire and the catheter body to move the enlargement farther distally of the distal end of the catheter body following at least a portion of the step of advancing the catheter body; providing an endoscope in the lumen of the catheter body; relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the enlargement; and viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the step of advancing includes advancing the catheter body and the guidewire simultaneously.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method a defined in claim 11 wherein the step of providing is carried out before completion of the step of advancing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the step of relatively displacing includes moving the catheter body relative to the endoscope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is a fallopian tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is the gastrointestinal tract.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is a passage in the vascular system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is a neural passage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is an epidural passage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the interior passage is a passage in the urinary tract.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 11 including carrying out said step of providing before said step of advancing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 11 including carrying out said step of providing after said step of advancing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a working lumen for receiving a medical instrument or a fluid and a guidewire lumen opening at the distal end of the catheter body; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire, a proximal section between the proximal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement and a distal section between the distal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement; at least a portion of said proximal section of said guidewire being received in said guidewire lumen and mounted on the catheter body so that the guidewire can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position and a controller carried by the catheter body and coupled to the proximal section of the guidewire for use in moving the guidewire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a working lumen for receiving a medical instrument or a fluid and a guidewire lumen opening at the distal end of the catheter body; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire, a proximal section between the proximal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement and a distal section between the distal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement; at least a portion of said proximal section of said guidewire being received in said guidewire lumen and mounted on the catheter body so that the guidewire can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position and a controller carried by the catheter body and coupled to the proximal section of the guidewire for use in moving the guidewire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
80 words
A catheter as defined in claim 23 wherein the catheter body has a longitudinally extending slot communicating with the guidewire lumen, said controller is movable longitudinally in said slot and is coupled to the proximal section of the guidewire, said slot has proximal and distal ends defining, respectively, proximal and distal stops for said controller, and wherein said controller engages the proximal stop when the enlargement is closely adjacent or in contact with the distal end of the catheter body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as defined in claim 23 wherein the proximal and distal sections are axially aligned.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as defined in claim 23 wherein the proximal and distal sections are axially disaligned.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as defined in claim 23 wherein the rounded enlargement is generally tear drop shaped.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as defined in claim 23 wherein the rounded enlargement is blended smoothly into the distal section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
171 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a working lumen for receiving a medical instrument or a fluid and a guidewire lumen opening at the distal end of the catheter body; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire, a proximal section between the proximal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement and a distal section between the distal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement; at least a portion of said proximal section of said guidewire being received in said guidewire lumen and mounted on the catheter body so that the guidewire can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and the proximal and distal sections being axially disaligned.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
171 words
A catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a working lumen for receiving a medical instrument or a fluid and a guidewire lumen opening at the distal end of the catheter body; an elongated flexible guidewire having proximal and distal ends, said guidewire including a rounded enlargement between said ends of the guidewire, a proximal section between the proximal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement and a distal section between the distal end of the guidewire and the rounded enlargement; at least a portion of said proximal section of said guidewire being received in said guidewire lumen and mounted on the catheter body so that the guidewire can be moved longitudinally relative to the catheter body from a first position in which the rounded enlargement is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body to a second position in which the rounded enlargement is located distally of the position the rounded enlargement occupies in the first position; and the proximal and distal sections being axially disaligned.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |