Access catheter and system for use in the female reproductive system
First Claim
1. A kit containing catheters for depositing material within the reproductive system of the female, the kit comprising:
- an introducing catheter defining a introducing lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end;
an access catheter including;
a shaft defining a second lumen, having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said introducing lumen;
a nonexpansible segment having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end connected at a junction to said distal end of said shaft, said segment defining a passage communicating with said lumen at said junction and communicating with a distal opening at said distal end of said segment, and said segment being formed of at least first and second layers of material and having an outer diameter smaller than that of said shaft; and
reinforcing material disposed between said first and second layers of said segment to resist constriction of said passage; and
a transfer catheter having a length at least as long as that of said access catheter and having a diameter smaller than that of said second lumen of said access catheter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter for accessing a body cavity such as the reproductive system of the female, the catheter including a shaft which is connected at its distal end to a nonexpansible segment. A lumen in the shaft communicates with a passage in the segment. The segment further includes reinforcing material disposed within the segment to resist constriction of the passage. A catheter system and methods of using same includes such an access catheter and an introducing catheter through which the access catheter is insertable, and a transfer catheter which is insertable through the access catheter. The invention is useful particularly in treatment of infertility by placing reproductive cells in the uterus or a fallopian tube.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A kit containing catheters for depositing material within the reproductive system of the female, the kit comprising:
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an introducing catheter defining a introducing lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end; an access catheter including; a shaft defining a second lumen, having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said introducing lumen; a nonexpansible segment having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end connected at a junction to said distal end of said shaft, said segment defining a passage communicating with said lumen at said junction and communicating with a distal opening at said distal end of said segment, and said segment being formed of at least first and second layers of material and having an outer diameter smaller than that of said shaft; and reinforcing material disposed between said first and second layers of said segment to resist constriction of said passage; and a transfer catheter having a length at least as long as that of said access catheter and having a diameter smaller than that of said second lumen of said access catheter.
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2. A catheter system for accessing a portion of the reproductive system of a female, the system comprising:
an access catheter including; a shaft defining a lumen, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a nonexpansible segment having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end connected at a junction to said distal end of said shaft, and said segment defining a passage communicating with said lumen at said junction and communicating with a distal opening at said distal end of said segment; and reinforcing material disposed within said segment to resist constriction of said passage; and
a transfer catheter having an elongated shaft insertable through said access catheter for delivering reproductive cells carried by the transfer catheter into a desired location within the reproductive system.
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3. A catheter system for accessing a portion of the female reproductive system, the system comprising:
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an introducing catheter defining a first lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end; and an access catheter including; a shaft defining a second lumen, having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said first lumen; a distal tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end connected at a junction to said distal end of said shaft, and said tube defining a passage communicating with said lumen at said junction and communicating with a distal opening at said distal end of said tube; and reinforcing material disposed within said tube to resist constriction of said passage. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification