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Medical device and method

  • US 20040260333A1
  • Filed: 04/15/2004
  • Published: 12/23/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A catheter/dilator assembly comprising:

  • a catheter assembly comprising;

    a catheter having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, a lumen, and an outer catheter surface; and

    a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to and extending past the distal catheter end, the material-directing element having an axial length when in the radially collapsed state;

    a dilator comprising a hollow shaft within the lumen of the catheter, the hollow shaft having an outer shaft surface, a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft end and a recessed region in the outer shaft surface at the distal shaft end;

    the recessed region and the material-directing element being generally aligned with one another;

    a compression element covering the material-directing element to temporarily retain the material-directing element in a radially collapsed state; and

    the recessed region sized for receipt of at least substantially the entire axial length of the material-directing element so to reduce the radial cross-sectional dimension of the assembly at the material-directing element.

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