Large-diameter introducer sheath having hemostasis valve and removable steering mechanism
First Claim
1. An aortic introducer catheter for use with an obturator having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a deflecting mechanism actuable from the proximal end of the obturator for laterally deflecting at least the distal portion, the aortic introducer catheter comprising:
- a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween for removably receiving the obturator, wherein the length between the proximal and distal ends is in the range from 30 cm to 60 cm and the lumen diameter is in the range from 5 mm to 10 mm; and
a hemostasis valve secured to the proximal end of the sheath;
wherein the distal end of the sheath is sufficiently flexible so as to be laterally deflectable by the deflecting mechanism of the obturator when the obturator is within the lumen of the sheath, so that the obturator can steer the sheath within a tortuous blood vessel, andwherein the flexible sheath comprises;
a tubular inner liner having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween;
a flat wire helical coil wrapped over an exterior surface of the tubular inner liner, said coil having spaced-apart adjacent turns; and
a plastic coating formed over the helical coil, penetrating into the space between adjacent turns of the coil, and bonded to the tubular inner liner.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter introducing system includes an introducer catheter comprising a flexible sheath having a hemostasis valve and an obturator having a steering mechanism operated by a proximal actuator handle. The catheter introducer system will usually be introduced with the obturator inside of the flexible sheath so that the obturator can effect steering by laterally deflecting the distal end of the combined sheath and obturator. Such catheter introducing systems are particularly useful for large diameter sheaths which are not readily introduced over guide wires. A first exemplary hemostasis valve comprises a compressed foam insert having an axial lumen therein. A second exemplary hemostasis valve comprises an elastomeric insert which receives and seals over the catheter.
304 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An aortic introducer catheter for use with an obturator having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a deflecting mechanism actuable from the proximal end of the obturator for laterally deflecting at least the distal portion, the aortic introducer catheter comprising:
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a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween for removably receiving the obturator, wherein the length between the proximal and distal ends is in the range from 30 cm to 60 cm and the lumen diameter is in the range from 5 mm to 10 mm; and a hemostasis valve secured to the proximal end of the sheath; wherein the distal end of the sheath is sufficiently flexible so as to be laterally deflectable by the deflecting mechanism of the obturator when the obturator is within the lumen of the sheath, so that the obturator can steer the sheath within a tortuous blood vessel, and wherein the flexible sheath comprises; a tubular inner liner having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween; a flat wire helical coil wrapped over an exterior surface of the tubular inner liner, said coil having spaced-apart adjacent turns; and a plastic coating formed over the helical coil, penetrating into the space between adjacent turns of the coil, and bonded to the tubular inner liner.
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2. An aortic introducer catheter for use with an obturator having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a deflecting mechanism actuable from the proximal end of the obturator for laterally deflecting at least the distal portion, the aortic introducer catheter comprising:
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a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween for removably receiving the obturator, wherein the length between the proximal and distal ends is in the range from 30 cm to 60 cm and the lumen diameter is in the range from 5 mm to 10 mm, and a hemostasis valve secured to the proximal end of the sheath; wherein the distal end of the sheath is sufficiently flexible so as to be laterally deflectable by the deflecting mechanism of the obturator when the obturator is within the lumen of the sheath, so that the obturator can steer the sheath within a tortuous blood vessel, and wherein the hemostasis valve comprises; a housing having an interior and axially aligned inlet and outlet ports; and a compressible insert disposed within the interior of the housing, said insert including a polymeric foam body having an open axial lumen and an exterior geometry which is similar to but larger than the cavity in the housing, wherein the insert is confined within the cavity to close the lumen with said closed lumen being aligned between the inlet and outlet ports.
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3. A catheter sheath for use with an obturator having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a deflecting mechanism actuable from the proximal end of the obturator for laterally deflecting at least the distal portion, the sheath comprising:
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a tubular inner liner having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween for removably receiving the obturator, the distal end having a region of enhanced flexibility; a flat wire helical coil wrapped over an exterior surface of the tubular inner liner, said coil having consistently spaced-apart adjacent turns; and a plastic coating formed over the helical coil, penetrating into the space between adjacent turns of the coil, and bonded to the tubular inner liner; wherein the distal end of the sheath is laterally deflectable by the deflecting mechanism of the obturator when the obturator is within the lumen of the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A steerable obturator for use with a flexible catheter sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, said obturator comprising:
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a flexible body having a proximal end and tapered distal tip, the flexible body removably receivable in the lumen of the sheath; and a deflecting mechanism actuable from the proximal end of the flexible body for laterally deflecting at least a distal portion of the flexible body; wherein the distal portion of the flexible body is capable of redirecting axial advancement of the sheath by actuating the deflecting mechanism while the sheath advances distally over the obturator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hemostasis valve for use with a catheter having an outer surface, the hemostasis valve comprising:
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a housing having an interior cavity and axially aligned inlet and outlet ports; an elastomeric insert within the interior cavity of the housing, said insert having a forwardly disposed conical face, wherein the face is radially split to permit passage of a catheter therethrough and an annular ring disposed proximally of the face, the annular ring having an open lumen which is adapted to form a sliding seal with the outer surface of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification