EXPANDABLE TRANSAPICAL SHEATH AND METHOD OF USE
First Claim
1. A method of introducing catheters into a ventricle of a heart, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a guidewire into the heart through a puncture in the myocardium and routing the guidewire to a target region of the cardiovascular system;
inserting a collapsed sheath with a dilator pre-inserted, over the guidewire and into the vasculature,radially expanding an expandable region of the sheath so that the expandable region radially dilates the myocardium and forms a lining inside the myocardium;
performing therapy or diagnosis at the target region through the expanded sheath; and
removing the sheath from the heart.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, small cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the ventricular myocardium, more specifically at the left ventricular apex, into the aortic root. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. In an exemplary application, the sheath includes a supported proximal end, a supported distal end, and a collapsible center section. Certain configurations of the sheath are capable of being inserted in a first, small cross-sectional configuration, being expanded diametrically to a second, larger cross-sectional configuration, and then being reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.
211 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of introducing catheters into a ventricle of a heart, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a guidewire into the heart through a puncture in the myocardium and routing the guidewire to a target region of the cardiovascular system; inserting a collapsed sheath with a dilator pre-inserted, over the guidewire and into the vasculature, radially expanding an expandable region of the sheath so that the expandable region radially dilates the myocardium and forms a lining inside the myocardium; performing therapy or diagnosis at the target region through the expanded sheath; and removing the sheath from the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. An endovascular transapical catheter for providing access to a patient'"'"'s heart through a puncture in the myocardium;
- the catheter comprising;
a sheath having a distal portion, a proximal portion and a lumen extending therebetween, the proximal portion adapted to extend out of the patient and the distal portion adapted to extend through a puncture in the myocardium into a ventricle of the heart;
the sheath comprising at least one diametrically expandable region that comprises a malleable reinforcement structure configured to maintain the at least one diametrically expandable region in a first cross-sectional configuration in which the at least one diametrically expandable region is longitudinally folded into a reduced cross-sectional profile and can be expanded into a second cross-sectional configuration in which the at least one diametrically expanded region is unfolded larger cross-sectional profile; anda hub coupled to the sheath at its proximal end. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- the catheter comprising;
Specification