REDUCED FRICTION CATHETER INTRODUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AND USING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A splittable sheath introducer, comprising:
- a sheath;
a hub disposed at a proximal end of the sheath;
a valve included with the hub; and
a valve actuator movable from a first position to a second position, the valve actuator opening the valve when in the second position, wherein the valve actuator further includes a retaining member that enables the valve actuator to be retained by a portion of the hub when the sheath introducer is split apart.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tear-away sheath introducers for catheters, methods for making such introducers, and methods for using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the axis of the introducer. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. The conduit can include a one-way valve actuator that can penetrate and open the valve, yet remain attached to a portion of the introducer when the introducer is split for removal from a patient. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A splittable sheath introducer, comprising:
-
a sheath; a hub disposed at a proximal end of the sheath; a valve included with the hub; and a valve actuator movable from a first position to a second position, the valve actuator opening the valve when in the second position, wherein the valve actuator further includes a retaining member that enables the valve actuator to be retained by a portion of the hub when the sheath introducer is split apart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
11. A splittable sheath introducer, comprising:
-
a sheath; a hub disposed at a proximal end of the sheath; a valve disposed in the hub; and a valve actuator including; a body defining a conduit extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the body further defining a longitudinal channel in communication with the conduit; and a surface on the body for enabling a user to apply force to the valve actuator in a direction substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the valve actuator, the force enabling movement of the valve actuator from a first position to a second position, wherein the distal end of the valve actuator opens the valve when the valve actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for inserting a catheter, comprising:
-
providing a splittable sheath introducer, the sheath introducer including a sheath, a sheath hub disposed at a proximal end of the sheath, a valve disposed in the sheath hub, and a valve actuator disposed in a cavity of the sheath hub; inserting a distal portion of the sheath into a portion of a body of a patient; moving the valve actuator from a first position to a second position so as to open the valve; inserting a catheter into the body of the patient through the open valve and the sheath via a conduit defined by the valve actuator; and splitting the sheath introducer such that the catheter passes through a channel defined in the valve actuator and such that the valve actuator remains attached to a portion of the sheath hub after the sheath introducer is split. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification