Atraumatic Ureteral Access Sheath
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ureteral access sheaths can have a nonuniform axial-stiffness. A nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath can have an inner liner defining a longitudinally extending and generally uniform bore. A non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket can define a longitudinally tapered outer surface, and a reinforcement layer can be encapsulated between the inner liner and the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket. The reinforcement layer can have a non-uniform axial-stiffness. For example, a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer can be thicker than a distal portion of the reinforcement layer. A coil of wire can be included in the reinforcement layer, and a diameter of the wire in a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer can be larger than a diameter of the wire in a distal portion of the reinforcement layer. In some instances, the diameter of the wire tapers from the proximal portion to the distal portion.
13 Citations
37 Claims
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1-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A ureteral access sheath, comprising:
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an inner liner defining a longitudinally extending and generally uniform bore; an outer jacket; and a reinforcement layer encapsulated between the inner liner and the outer jacket; wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a polymer, a metal, or both, having a non-uniform axial stiffness along a. length of a longitudinal axis of the ureteral access sheath. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification