Expandable guide sheath and apparatus and methods using such sheaths
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end, a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen, and a substantially atraumatic distal tip; and
an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member,wherein the sheath is attached to the stiffening member at one or more locations and wherein the sheath may be split into one or more pieces such that the sheath may be removed from around an instrument disposed within the lumen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing body lumens and/or for delivering instruments into body lumens, e.g., vessels within a patient'"'"'s vasculature. A flexible sheath is provided that is expandable from a contracted condition to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen therein. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible/expandable guide for delivering fluids and/or instruments through tortuous anatomy and/or into relatively narrow passages. The sheath is advanced from an entry site to a body lumen in the contracted condition. Once the sheath reaches a target body lumen, the sheath is expanded to the enlarged condition, thereby defining a lumen within the sheath, and fluids and/or instruments are introduced into the body lumen via the sheath lumen. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath is removed from the body lumen.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end, a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen, and a substantially atraumatic distal tip; and an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, wherein the sheath is attached to the stiffening member at one or more locations and wherein the sheath may be split into one or more pieces such that the sheath may be removed from around an instrument disposed within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 54, 55, 56)
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26. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end, a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen, a substantially atraumatic distal tip, and having sufficient length to be advanced from a location outside a patient'"'"'s body through any intervening body passages into a site to be accessed; and an expandable sheath expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath and an enlarged condition, the expandable sheath being flimsy and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from the contracted condition to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and the enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, wherein the sheath is attached to the stiffening member at one or more locations. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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57. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end, a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen, and one or more lumens extending between the proximal and distal ends; and an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath comprising a lubricious coating for facilitating inserting one or more instruments through the lumen, wherein the sheath is attached to the stiffening member at one or more locations. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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59. An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a flexible stiffening member having a proximal end, and a distal end having a size and shape for insertion into a body lumen; an expandable sheath extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the stiffening member, wherein the sheath is attached to the stiffening member at one or more locations; and an electrical lead advanceable through the lumen of the sheath after the sheath has been advanced along with the stiffening member into a desired body lumen of a patient, wherein the sheath comprises a lubricious coating for facilitating inserting the lead through the lumen.
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Specification