KEITH et al. V. COELHO - Page 22




          Interference No. 103,270                                                    



          apparatus using the "balloon on a stick" concept, i.e. (KR-42,              
          43):                                                                        
                    The "balloon on a stick" concept was                              
                    essentially a captivation balloon on a                            
                    fixed wire type of device.  Peter Keith                           
                    disclosed that during a catheter exchange a                       
                    balloon dilatation catheter could be pulled                       
                    back over a guidewire and into a guide                            
                    catheter thereby exposing the guidewire                           
                    distal of the dilatation balloon within the                       
                    guide catheter lumen proximate the distal                         
                    end of the guide catheter.  Peter Keith                           
                    then disclosed that the captivation device                        
                    could be advanced down the guide catheter                         
                    from the proximal end thereof, and past the                       
                    dilatation balloon such that the                                  
                    captivation balloon was positioned adjacent                       
                    the exposed portion of the guidewire,                             
                    distal of the dilatation balloon but within                       
                    the lumen of the guide catheter proximate                         
                    the distal end of the guide catheter.                             
                    Peter Keith further disclosed that                                
                    the captivation balloon could then be                             
                    inflated to lock, or hold the guidewire                           
                    against the inner wall of the guide                               
                    catheter.  This would prevent the guidewire                       
                    from moving proximally or distally during                         
                    the remainder of the catheter exchange.                           
                    Since the guidewire was immobilized, the                          
                    balloon dilatation catheter could be                              
                    completely withdrawn in a proximal                                
                    direction from the guidewire without                              
                    utilizing an extension                                            
                    wire.  Thereafter, a different balloon                            
                    dilatation catheter could be advanced over                        
                    the guidewire into the guide catheter until                       
                    the proximal end of the dilatation catheter                       
                    extended distally of the proximal end of                          

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