HINGED SHEATH ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20110208292A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Von Oepen, Randolf, Yribarren, Travis R.
• Application Number:
  US12/708,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

A sheath assembly is provided for protecting a stent mounted on a catheter. An inner tubular member is positioned over the stent without longitudinal movement of the inner tubular member along the stent surface thereby eliminating the possibility of scraping or scratching a drug coating or polymer coating on the stent surface. An outer tubular member slides over the inner tubular member to firmly compress it onto the stent for further protection. In use, the outer tubular member is removed from over the inner tubular member so that the inner tubular member can open similar to a clamshell opening radially outwardly away from the stent without longitudinal movement along the stent surface.

Claims

1. A sheath assembly for protecting a stent mounted on a catheter, comprising:

a sheath assembly having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member;

the inner tubular member having at least two longitudinal slits; and

the outer tubular member extending over at least a portion of the inner tubular member.

2. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular member is configured for slidable movement over the inner tubular member.

3. The sheath assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer tubular member has an inner diameter and an outer diameter and the inner tubular member has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter of the outer tubular member being greater than the outer diameter of the inner tubular member.

4. The sheath assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer tubular member is sized to compress the inner tubular member when the outer tubular member slides over the inner tubular member.

5. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular member is formed from a rigid polymer material and the inner tubular member is formed from a polymer material including urethane, rubber, latex, LLDPE, HDPE and LDPE.

6. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two longitudinal slits in the inner tubular member produce two generally half-cylindrical portions.

7. The sheath assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least two longitudinal slits extend along a substantial portion of the inner tubular member.

8. The sheath assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner tubular member has a hinge portion at a distal end of the longitudinal slits so that the two generally half-cylindrical portions can open and close in a clamshell configuration.

9. The sheath assembly of claim 8, wherein the hinge portion has a keyhole configuration.

10. The sheath assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner tubular member has an outer ridge and the outer tubular member has an inner ridge thereby creating an interference between the ridges so that the sheath assembly remains a unitary assembly.

11. A sheath assembly for protecting a stent mounted on a catheter, comprising:

a sheath assembly having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member;

the inner tubular member having two longitudinal slits generally diametrically opposed; and

the outer tubular member configured for slidable movement over the inner tubular member so that the outer tubular member applies a slight compressive force on the inner tubular member.