Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A balloon catheter for enlarging a flow passage within a vascular conduit, said balloon catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; an inner member extending coaxially within said catheter tube, said inner member being longitudinally slidable within said catheter tube and configured such that a longitudinal passageway is created between said inner member and said catheter tube for passage of a fluid therethrough; a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner member, said balloon having a proximal balloon end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal balloon end connected to said inner member to define an annular balloon chamber in fluid connection with said longitudinal passageway, said balloon having properties for inflating and deflating in response to the fluid passing through the longitudinal passageway; an outer sleeve surrounding said balloon, said sleeve having a proximal sleeve end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal sleeve end connected to the distal end of said inner member such that said outer sleeve is radially expandable and collapsible independent of said balloon through movement of the inner member relative to the catheter tube; and the outer sleeve being radially expandable to a predetermined configuration comprising a pair of spaced-apart annular chambers, and said balloon, upon inflation, being limited to the predetermined configuration by said outer sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A balloon catheter for enlarging a flow passage within a vascular conduit, said balloon catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; an inner member extending coaxially within said catheter tube, said inner member being longitudinally slidable within said catheter tube and configured such that a longitudinal passageway is created between said inner member and said catheter tube for passage of a fluid therethrough; a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner member, said balloon having a proximal balloon end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal balloon end connected to said inner member to define an annular balloon chamber in fluid connection with said longitudinal passageway, said balloon having properties for inflating and deflating in response to the fluid passing through the longitudinal passageway; an outer sleeve surrounding said balloon, said sleeve having a proximal sleeve end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal sleeve end connected to the distal end of said inner member such that said outer sleeve is radially expandable and collapsible independent of said balloon through movement of the inner member relative to the catheter tube; and the outer sleeve being radially expandable to a predetermined configuration comprising a pair of spaced-apart annular chambers, and said balloon, upon inflation, being limited to the predetermined configuration by said outer sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said balloon is distensible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein the predetermined configuration of the outer sleeve is one of a plurality of predetermined configurations, each associated with one of a plurality of predetermined positions of the inner member relative to the catheter tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said predetermined configurations is associated with one of a plurality of unique shapes of the outer sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer sleeve comprises a reduced radius portion between said spaced apart annular sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner member comprises an axial passageway for passage of a second fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer sleeve comprises a tubular woven mesh.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 7 wherein said woven mesh comprises a plurality of interlaced filaments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
A balloon catheter for enlarging a flow passage in a vascular conduit, said catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; an inner tubular member disposed coaxially within said catheter tube, said inner tubular member longitudinally slidable within said catheter tube and configured to provide a longitudinal passageway between said inner tubular member and said catheter tube for passage of a fluid therethrough; a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner tubular member, said balloon having a proximal balloon end connected to said inner tubular member and a distal balloon end connected to the distal end of said inner tubular member to define an annular balloon chamber; and an outer sleeve surrounding said balloon, said sleeve having a proximal sleeve end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal sleeve end connected to the distal end of said inner member such that said outer sleeve is radially expandable and collapsible independent of said balloon through movement of the inner member relative to the catheter tube for contacting said vascular conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
A balloon catheter for enlarging a flow passage in a vascular conduit, said catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; an inner tubular member disposed coaxially within said catheter tube, said inner tubular member longitudinally slidable within said catheter tube and configured to provide a longitudinal passageway between said inner tubular member and said catheter tube for passage of a fluid therethrough; a balloon disposed coaxially about said inner tubular member, said balloon having a proximal balloon end connected to said inner tubular member and a distal balloon end connected to the distal end of said inner tubular member to define an annular balloon chamber; and an outer sleeve surrounding said balloon, said sleeve having a proximal sleeve end connected to said distal end of said catheter tube and a distal sleeve end connected to the distal end of said inner member such that said outer sleeve is radially expandable and collapsible independent of said balloon through movement of the inner member relative to the catheter tube for contacting said vascular conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 9 wherein said inner tubular member comprises a longitudinal passageway in fluid connection with said annular balloon chamber for fluidly inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 10 said balloon is distensible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein said balloon is non-distensible.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein said inner tubular member is longitudinally movable relative to said catheter tube such that said outer sleeve may be radially expanded into a predetermined configuration and said balloon, upon inflation, is limited to said predetermined configuration by said outer sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 13 wherein the predetermined configuration of the outer sleeve is one of a plurality of predetermined configurations, each associated with one of a plurality of predetermined positions of the inner member relative to the catheter tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 14 wherein each of said predetermined configurations is associated with one of a plurality of different shapes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The balloon catheter as recited in claim 9 wherein said outer sleeve comprises a mesh of woven filaments.