Atraumatic ureteral access sheath
First Claim
1. A nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath, comprising:
- a tubular inner liner;
a reinforcement layer coaxially located over the inner liner; and
an outer jacket coaxially located over the reinforcement layer, the outer jacket having a jacket proximal portion and a jacket distal portion, the jacket proximal portion having a higher durometer than the jacket distal portion, wherein along a length of the sheath, spanning the jacket distal portion and jacket proximal portion, there are spaces between the tubular inner liner and the outer jacket that are void of reinforcement layer structure.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ureteral access sheath having nonuniform axial-stiffness adapted for proximal pushability needed for placement while also having distal flexibility to minimize trauma to the body lumen and ureter. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath comprising a nonuniform axial-stiffness jacket encapsulating the reinforcement layer with the inner liner. Other embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath comprising a nonuniform axial-stiffness reinforcement layer encapsulated between a single axial-stiffness jacket and the inner liner. Other embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath comprising a nonuniform axial-stiffness jacket encapsulating a nonuniform axial-stiffness reinforcement layer with the inner liner.
78 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath, comprising:
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a tubular inner liner; a reinforcement layer coaxially located over the inner liner; and an outer jacket coaxially located over the reinforcement layer, the outer jacket having a jacket proximal portion and a jacket distal portion, the jacket proximal portion having a higher durometer than the jacket distal portion, wherein along a length of the sheath, spanning the jacket distal portion and jacket proximal portion, there are spaces between the tubular inner liner and the outer jacket that are void of reinforcement layer structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 25)
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8. A nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath, comprising:
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a tubular inner liner; a reinforcement layer coaxially located over the inner liner, the reinforcement layer comprising a reinforcement layer proximal portion and a reinforcement layer distal portion, the reinforcement layer proximal portion having a higher axial stiffness than the reinforcement layer distal portion; and an outer jacket coaxially located over the reinforcement layer wherein along a length of the sheath, spanning the reinforcement layer proximal portion and the reinforcement layer distal portion, there are spaces between the tubular inner liner and the outer jacket that are void of reinforcement layer structure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 26)
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15. A method of constructing a nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath comprising:
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providing an elongated tubular inner liner having a liner proximal portion and a liner distal portion; providing an outer jacket disposed over the inner liner, the outer jacket comprising a jacket proximal portion having a higher durometer and a jacket distal portion having a lower durometer; and providing a reinforcement layer coaxially disposed between the inner liner and outer jacket, and wherein along a length of the sheath, spanning the jacket distal portion and jacket proximal portion, there are spaces between the tubular inner liner and the outer jacket that are void of reinforcement layer structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 27)
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20. A method of constructing a nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath comprising:
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providing an elongated tubular inner liner having a liner proximal portion and a liner distal portion; providing an outer jacket disposed over the inner liner; and providing a reinforcement layer coaxially disposed between the inner liner and outer jacket, the reinforcement layer comprising a reinforcement layer proximal portion having a higher axial stiffness and a reinforcement layer distal portion having a lower axial stiffness and wherein along a length of the sheath, spanning the reinforcement layer distal portion and the reinforcement layer proximal portion, there are spaces between the tubular inner liner and the outer jacket that are void of reinforcement layer structure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 28)
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Specification