Flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of:
- providing an inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough;
providing a coil having a plurality of turns and an inner diameter less than said outer diameter of said inner tube;
providing an outer tube;
winding said coil around said inner tube;
longitudinally positioning said outer tube around said coil and said inner tube; and
connecting said outer tube to said inner tube through spaces between said turns.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath for percutaneous vascular access. The introducer sheath includes a flat wire coil with uniform spacing between the turns, which is compression fitted about an inner, lubricous material polytetrafluoroethylene tube. The introducer sheath further includes an outer tube of a heat formable polyamide material which is heat formed and compressed through the spaces between the turns of the wire coil to mechanically connect to the roughened outer surface of the inner tube. The distal end of the outer tube is tapered in a mold with additional polyamide outer tube material. The proximal end of the sheath is flared for connection to a connector fitting. In another aspect of the introducer sheath, the flat wire coil has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner tube. The coil is then expanded and wrapped around the inner tube to form a compression fit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of:
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providing an inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; providing a coil having a plurality of turns and an inner diameter less than said outer diameter of said inner tube; providing an outer tube; winding said coil around said inner tube; longitudinally positioning said outer tube around said coil and said inner tube; and connecting said outer tube to said inner tube through spaces between said turns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath including an inner tube, a coil, and an outer tube, the inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner tube, comprising the steps of:
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radially expanding the turns of the coil to an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the inner tube; wrapping the turns of the coil when radially expanded longitudinally around the inner tube; connecting the outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. The method of providing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of:
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radially expanding a coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of an inner tube; wrapping the radially expanded coil longitudinally around the inner tube; and connecting an outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil wrapped around the inner tube. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification