Expandable percutaneous sheath

• US 20060200189A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Medical Corporation (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Nance, George F. Kick, Jay Lenker, Joseph Bishop, Onnik Tchulluian
• Inventors: Bishop, Joseph, Kick, George F., Nance, Edward J., Lenker, Jay, Tchulluian, Onnik
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0024 Expandable catheters or sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media

Abstract

Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration by a tubular restraint. In one application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as percutaneous nephrostomy or urinary bladder access.

Claims

1. A percutaneous access system for providing minimally invasive access,

an access sheath comprising a tubular body that defines a lumen, at least a portion of the tubular body being expandable from a first, folded, smaller cross-sectional profile to a second, unfolded, greater cross-sectional profile;

and

a tubular sheath positioned over the access sheath to restrain at least a portion of the tubular body in the first, folded, smaller cross-sectional profile;

wherein the tubular body is sufficiently pliable that when the tubular structure is in the second, greater cross-sectional area, the tubular body may bend at least about 15 degrees with respect to a straight longitudinal axis extending through the lumen while maintaining at least about 50% of the cross-sectional area of the lumen in the second, greater cross-sectional profile.