18960004. COMBINED INTRODUCER AND EXPANDABLE SHEATH (EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION)

COMBINED INTRODUCER AND EXPANDABLE SHEATH

Organization Name

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

Inventor(s)

Erik Bulman of Lake Forest CA (US)

COMBINED INTRODUCER AND EXPANDABLE SHEATH

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18960004 titled 'COMBINED INTRODUCER AND EXPANDABLE SHEATH

Original Abstract Submitted

Disclosed herein is a combined introducer and expandable sheath having an inner member and an outer elastomeric jacket. The inner member has radially folded tapered segments in an unexpanded state that are mechanically unfolded and moved toward the inner wall of the elastomeric jacket by a medical device moving through the lumen of the inner member. The compressive outer elastomeric jacket returns the expanded inner member back to the radially folded, unexpanded state once the medical device has passed through the expanded lumen of the inner member. The structure can include a distal region that tapers to a rounded tip. The proximal region also tapers to mate with a hemostasis value housing.