Patent ID: 9439583
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A functional assessment catheter for the lungs, said catheter comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal and a proximal end, and a central passage there between; a flow restrictive component disposed at the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flow restrictive component has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; an obturator disposed in the central passage and shiftable between a distally advanced position where it engages and elongates the flow restrictive component to cause the component to assume the contracted configuration, and a proximally retracted position where it allows the flow restrictive component to shorten and return to the expanded configuration; and a release mechanism for selectively detaching the flow restrictive component from the catheter shaft; wherein the release mechanism comprises a sleeve attached at a proximal end of the flow restrictive component and an attachment ball projects from a proximal end of the sleeve, wherein both the attachment ball and the sleeve have an internal passage which permits air flow through the release mechanism so that gases may be exchanged from the catheter shaft through an open aperture at a distal end of the flow restrictive component to permit performance of a diagnostic test for collateral ventilation.