Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends; and b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends; and b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said coiled member is made from stainless steel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said coiled member is made from a nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer sheath comprises an outer polymeric layer, an inner polymeric layer, and a wire reinforcing layer between said inner and outer layers, said reinforcing layer being more rigid than said inner and outer layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said shaft extends distal to said distal end of said sheath, and said proximal end of said shaft extends proximal to said proximal end of said sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sheath has an increasing durometer along its length from its distal end to its proximal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A delivery apparatus for expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter; b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis, said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members, said shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said sheath; and c. a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath, said shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said stent, whereby said stent makes contact with said stop during deployment of said stent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A delivery apparatus for expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter; b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis, said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members, said shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said sheath; and c. a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath, said shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said stent, whereby said stent makes contact with said stop during deployment of said stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said coiled member is made from stainless steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said coiled member is made from a nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 7 wherein said outer sheath comprises an outer polymeric layer, an inner polymeric layer, and a wire reinforcing layer between said inner and outer layers, said reinforcing layer being more rigid than said inner and outer layers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said distal end of said shaft extends distal to said distal end of said sheath, and said proximal end of said shaft extends proximal to said proximal end of said sheath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stop makes substantially no frictional contact with said outer sheath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said shaft further includes a distal tip, said distal tip has a proximal end having an outer diameter which is not less than an outer diameter of said sheath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said distal tip is radiopaque.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stop is radio-opaque.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sheath has an increasing durometer along its length from its distal end to its proximal end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
182 words
A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter; b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis, said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members, said coiled member having a thin layer covering on an exterior thereof, said shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said sheath; and c. a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath, said shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said stent, whereby said stent makes contact with said stop during deployment of said stent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
182 words
A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a. an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter; b. an inner shaft, defining a longitudinal axis, located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal portion and a distal end and a proximal portion and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a body portion between said distal portion and said proximal portion, said body portion being formed from a flexible coiled member capable of stretching and compressing along said longitudinal axis, said distal portion and said proximal portion being formed from non-coiled members, said coiled member having a thin layer covering on an exterior thereof, said shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said sheath; and c. a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath, said shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said stent, whereby said stent makes contact with said stop during deployment of said stent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said coiled member is made from stainless steel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said thin layer covering is a polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 18 wherein said outer sheath comprises an outer polymeric layer, an inner polymeric layer, and a wire reinforcing layer between said inner and outer layers, said reinforcing layer being more rigid than said inner and outer layers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said distal end of said shaft extends distal to said distal end of said sheath, and said proximal end of said shaft extends proximal to said proximal end of said sheath.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said shaft further includes a distal tip, said distal tip has a proximal end having an outer diameter which is not less than an outer diameter of said sheath.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said sheath has an increasing durometer along its length from its distal end to its proximal end.