INTRODUCER SHEATH HAVING PROFILED REINFORCING MEMBER
First Claim
1. An introducer sheath comprising:
- an inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough;
a reinforcing member positioned longitudinally over the inner liner, the reinforcing member comprising a coil having adjacent coil turns, each of said coil turns having a cross-section comprising opposing end portions and a center portion, wherein a thickness of said coil turns at said end portions is greater than a thickness at said center portion; and
an outer jacket positioned longitudinally over said inner liner and said coil, said outer jacket bonded to said inner liner between said coil turns.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An introducer sheath includes an inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, a coil positioned over the inner liner, and an outer jacket positioned over the liner and the coil. The outer jacket is bonded to the inner liner between the coil turns. The coil turns have a cross-section comprising opposing end portions, and a center portion disposed between the opposing end portions. The center portion has a thickness not exceeding about one-third of a thickness of the end portions for reducing a bending modulus of the coil, and the end portions have a generally curved outer surface. At least a distal end portion of the outer jacket has a durometer between about 70 and 90 on the Shore D scale.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An introducer sheath comprising:
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an inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; a reinforcing member positioned longitudinally over the inner liner, the reinforcing member comprising a coil having adjacent coil turns, each of said coil turns having a cross-section comprising opposing end portions and a center portion, wherein a thickness of said coil turns at said end portions is greater than a thickness at said center portion; and an outer jacket positioned longitudinally over said inner liner and said coil, said outer jacket bonded to said inner liner between said coil turns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An introducer sheath comprising:
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an inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, said inner liner having an outer surface; a coil positioned longitudinally over the inner liner, the coil having adjacent coil turns, each of said coil turns having a cross-section comprising opposing end portions and a center portion disposed between said opposing end portions, said center portion having a thickness not exceeding about one-third of a thickness of said end portions for reducing a bending modulus of said coil, said end portions having a generally curved outer surface; and an outer jacket positioned longitudinally over said inner liner and said coil, said outer jacket bonded to said inner liner between said coil turns, at least a distal end portion of the outer jacket having a durometer between about 70 and 90 on the Shore D scale. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for forming an introducer sheath, comprising:
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positioning an inner liner over a mandrel, the inner liner having a passageway extending therethrough, and having an outer surface; positioning a reinforcing member longitudinally over the inner liner, the reinforcing member comprising a coil having adjacent coil turns, each of said coil turns having a cross-section comprising opposing end portions and a center portion disposed between said opposing end portions, said end portions having a greater thickness than a thickness of said center portion; positioning a polymeric outer jacket longitudinally over said inner liner and said coil; and exposing an assembly comprising the mandrel, inner liner, reinforcing member and outer jacket to sufficient heat to at least partially melt the outer jacket such that a melted portion of said outer jacket flows between said coil turns and bonds to an outer surface of said inner liner. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification