EXPANDABLE TRANSLUMINAL SHEATH
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low 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 distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration and expanded using a radial dilatation device. In an exemplary application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as ureteroscopy, cardiac electrophysiology, gastroenterology, and spinal access.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A method of instrumenting a body lumen comprising the steps of:
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inserting a dilator into a sheath, said sheath having a radially collapsible distal end; collapsing the distal end of the sheath radially inward around the dilator such that the distal end of the sheath is smaller in diameter than the proximal end of the sheath; inserting the sheath and dilator into the body lumen and advancing said sheath to a target treatment site; expanding the dilator, wherein the dilator expansion causes the distal end of the sheath to expand to a diameter substantially the same as that of the proximal end of the sheath; removing the dilator, wherein a central lumen remains that is substantially the same diameter moving from the proximal end to the distal end of the sheath; and introducing instruments or catheters through the central lumen of the sheath for a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20-27. -27. (canceled)
Specification