Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit for passing a fluid comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source, said tube extending through said fitting; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and the fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit for passing a fluid comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source, said tube extending through said fitting; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and the fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube comprise fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid includes a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said handpiece; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said interior cavity and fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube comprise fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid includes a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said handpiece; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said interior cavity and fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
193 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said fitting; whereby said first port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and said fluid flows successively through said second port, said channel and then through said first port in response to the creation of a vacuum in said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
193 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said fitting; whereby said first port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and said fluid flows successively through said second port, said channel and then through said first port in response to the creation of a vacuum in said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprises a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said handpiece whereby said first port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said handpiece and fluid is guided successively through said second port and said channel and then through said first port in response to the vacuum in said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprises a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said handpiece whereby said first port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said handpiece and fluid is guided successively through said second port and said channel and then through said first port in response to the vacuum in said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
265 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively, said fluid conduit for passing a fluid comprising a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source and said tube extends into said handpiece and said fluid inlet port thereof is in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said handpiece, said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprising a fitting including an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said fitting and said fluid outlet port being in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting whereby fluid is guided successively through said inlet port in said tube and said channel and then through said outlet port in said tube in response to the introduction of fluid through said inlet port and the vacuum through said outlet port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
265 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively, said fluid conduit for passing a fluid comprising a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source and said tube extends into said handpiece and said fluid inlet port thereof is in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said handpiece, said fluid conduit for creating a vacuum comprising a fitting including an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source, said tube extending into said fitting and said fluid outlet port being in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting whereby fluid is guided successively through said inlet port in said tube and said channel and then through said outlet port in said tube in response to the introduction of fluid through said inlet port and the vacuum through said outlet port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein each said tube and said energy conduit includes opposed side surfaces and said opposed side surfaces of said tube are crimped respectively against said opposed side surfaces of said energy conduit to define a first upper passage and a second lower passage in said tube together defining said channel in said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; b) a flexible energy conduit adapted for connection to a laser energy source, extending through said tube and including a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site and the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and c) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein each said tube and said energy conduit includes opposed side surfaces and said opposed side surfaces of said tube are crimped respectively against said opposed side surfaces of said energy conduit to define a first upper passage and a second lower passage in said tube together defining said channel in said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports therein defining fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a fitting in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid and adapted for connection to said first port whereby fluid is adapted to flow through said channel and exit through said second port in said tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports therein defining fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a fitting in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid and adapted for connection to said first port whereby fluid is adapted to flow through said channel and exit through said second port in said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
202 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports therein defining fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said cavity of said handpiece such that said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity whereby said fluid is adapted to flow through said inlet port and said channel and exits through said outlet port in said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
202 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports therein defining fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said cavity of said handpiece such that said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity whereby said fluid is adapted to flow through said inlet port and said channel and exits through said outlet port in said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a fitting in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source and adapted for connection to said first port; whereby fluid is adapted to flow successively through said second port; said channel and then through said first port in response to the creation of a vacuum in said tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said tube includes a peripheral wall defining first and second ports and said conduit is spaced from said wall to define a fluid channel in said tube, said device further comprising a fitting in fluid flow communication with a vacuum source and adapted for connection to said first port; whereby fluid is adapted to flow successively through said second port; said channel and then through said first port in response to the creation of a vacuum in said tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
164 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein each said tube and said energy conduit includes opposed side surfaces and said opposed side surfaces of said tube are crimped respectively against said opposed side surfaces of said energy conduit to define a first upper and a second lower passageway in said tube together defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with respective inlet and outlet ports formed in said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
164 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein each said tube and said energy conduit includes opposed side surfaces and said opposed side surfaces of said tube are crimped respectively against said opposed side surfaces of said energy conduit to define a first upper and a second lower passageway in said tube together defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with respective inlet and outlet ports formed in said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said distal end of said conduit is covered by a capillary tube including a closed distal end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
116 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) an elongate hollow tube including a closed distal end and a distal peripheral end portion defining a port; b) an energy conduit extending longitudinally through said tube including a distal end spaced from and parallel to said port and adapted to emit laser energy; and c) means for directing the laser energy emitted from said distal end of said energy conduit outwardly through said port in said tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said energy conduit; wherein said distal end of said conduit is covered by a capillary tube including a closed distal end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
202 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) a laser energy source; b) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; c) a flexible energy conduit extending through said tube and including a proximal end adapted for connection to the laser energy source and a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site, the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and d) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source, said tube extending through said fitting; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and the fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
202 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) a laser energy source; b) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; c) a flexible energy conduit extending through said tube and including a proximal end adapted for connection to the laser energy source and a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site, the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and d) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube define fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid comprises a fitting defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a fluid source, said tube extending through said fitting; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said cavity in said fitting and the fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
199 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) a laser energy source; b) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; a flexible energy conduit extending through said tube and including a proximal end adapted for connection to the laser energy source and a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site, the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and d) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube comprise fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid includes a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said handpiece; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said interior cavity and fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
199 words
A catheter device adapted for delivering laser energy to a body tissue comprising: a) a laser energy source; b) an elongate hollow tube defining first and second spaced-apart ports; a flexible energy conduit extending through said tube and including a proximal end adapted for connection to the laser energy source and a distal end adapted to emit laser energy to a predetermined tissue site, the distal end portion thereof defining a channel in said tube in fluid flow communication with said first and second ports respectively; and d) a fluid conduit for passing a fluid or creating a vacuum through said first and second ports and through said channel for cooling said distal end portion and cleaning said distal end of said energy conduit; wherein said first and second ports in said tube comprise fluid inlet and outlet ports respectively and said fluid conduit for passing a fluid includes a handpiece defining an interior cavity in fluid flow communication with a source of fluid, said tube extending into said handpiece; whereby said inlet port in said tube is located in fluid flow communication with said interior cavity and fluid flows through said channel and exits through said outlet port.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter device of claim 13 wherein the laser energy source is selected from the group consisting of an argon laser, a KTP laser, a Nd:YAG laser, a diode laser, an Alexandrite laser, and a holmium: YAG laser.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter device of claim 13 wherein the laser energy source is a holmiumYAG laser.