Expandable guide sheath and apparatus and methods using such sheaths
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end and a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen; and
an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing body lumens and/or for delivering instruments into body lumens, e.g., vessels within a patient'"'"'s vasculature. A flexible sheath is provided that is expandable from a contracted condition to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen therein. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible/expandable guide for delivering fluids and/or instruments through tortuous anatomy and/or into relatively narrow passages. The sheath is advanced from an entry site to a body lumen in the contracted condition. Once the sheath reaches a target body lumen, the sheath is expanded to the enlarged condition, thereby defining a lumen within the sheath, and fluids and/or instruments are introduced into the body lumen via the sheath lumen. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath is removed from the body lumen.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end and a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen; and
an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for accessing a body lumen of a patient, the method comprising:
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advancing an expandable sheath from an entry site to a body lumen with the sheath in a contracted condition;
expanding the sheath to an enlarged condition, thereby defining a lumen within the sheath; and
removing the sheath from the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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- 59. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising an expandable flimsy sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a length sufficient for the sheath to extend between an entry site into a patient'"'"'s body and a target body lumen, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends.
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73. An apparatus for delivery into a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible catheter comprising proximal and distal ends;
an expandable sheath attached to an outer surface of the catheter and comprising a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends of the sheath, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines an accessory lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method for delivering an instrument through an occlusion in a body lumen using a catheter comprising an expandable sheath extending along an outer surface of the catheter, comprising:
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introducing a distal end of the catheter into the body lumen proximal to the occlusion with the sheath in a contracted condition;
advancing the distal end of the catheter through the occlusion until a distal end of the sheath is disposed distal to the occlusion;
advancing an elongate member through the sheath until a distal end of the elongate member is disposed distal to the occlusion; and
withdrawing the catheter and sheath from the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82)
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Specification