Appeal No. 2000-0323 Page 16
Application No. 08/608,920
embodiment, the first lumen 244 has a smaller cross-sectional
area than the
second lumen 246. In addition, Ruggio teaches (column 11,
lines 34-37) that "the tip of the catheter 236 may be
configured in a variety of shapes, depending on the intended
application. The catheter 236 may have a straight tip, an
angled tip or a pig-tail tip, as is known in the art."
Claims 1 to 6, 8 to 11 and 15 to 20 recite an introducer
system comprising, inter alia, a dilator and an elongated
introducer sheath. Claims 1 to 6 and 15 to 20 also recite
means integrally formed with the dilator for introducing
contrast media adjacent the distal end of the dilator. Claims
8 to 11 also recite a contrast injection lumen formed in the
dilator body isolated from the guide wire lumen and
terminating in an injection port in the distal end of the
dilator. Claim 14 recites a method of introducing an
introducer sheath into a body including the steps of providing
an introducer sheath and providing a dilator having a guide
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