Patent
Expandable introducer sheath
| العنوان: | Expandable introducer sheath |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 6,183,443 |
| تاريخ النشر: | February 06, 2001 |
| Appl. No: | 09/179,231 |
| Application Filed: | October 26, 1998 |
| مستخلص: | The present invention comprises a method and device for providing an expandable introducer sheath. The method of employing the inventive device comprises inserting an elongate flexible tubular sheath into a vessel (with a proximal end of the sheath extending proximally outward through the skin), to slidably receive intravascular devices. When a larger size introducer sheath is desired, the sheath is manipulated while still in the vessel to expand its inner diameter to a larger size. In one embodiment, the sheath is made of a shape-memory polymer and is manipulated by inserting a heated mandrel (with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the sheath) within the sheath to cause the sheath to expand to an inner diameter at least approximately equal to an outer diameter of the mandrel. The shape-memory polymer material ensures that the sheath will retain its expanded inner diameter. Alternatively, the sheath is formed from a telescoping multi-tubular arrangement of progressively larger tubes. In any case, insertion of the inventive sheath into the skin requires only a single small puncture which is then only expanded as needed while the sheath remains in place. |
| Inventors: | Kratoska, William F. (Plymouth, MN); Richardson, Andrew G. (Chanhassen, MN); Tay, Sew-Wah (Plymouth, MN); Thome, Scott P. (Waite Park, MN); Keith, Peter T. (Fridley, MN) |
| Assignees: | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. (Maple Grove, MN) |
| Claim: | What is claimed is |
| Claim: | 1. A sheath system for introducing intravascular devices percutaneously, the sheath system comprising |
| Claim: | a first elongate flexible tubular sheath for placement within a vessel to slidably receive intravascular devices, the first sheath including a wall having a continuous outer surface, the outer surface defining an outer diameter; |
| Claim: | a second elongate flexible tubular sheath for placement within a vessel to slidably receive intravascular devices comprising a polymer material, the second sheath being coaxially slidable over the first sheath and being capable of percutaneously entering the vessel by distal advancement of the second sheath over the first sheath, the second sheath comprising a wall having a continuous outer surface and defining a first inner diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of the first sheath, the second sheath wall being selectively permanently expandable while within the vessel to define a second, larger inner diameter and maintaining a substantially uniform tubular shape without an additional member extending through the second sheath, wherein the polymer material is a shape-memory polymer having a glass transition temperature greater than the normal temperature of the human body so that the second sheath is capable of being forcibly expanded to define the second larger diameter and maintain the second diameter after the polymer has cooled to a temperature less than the glass transition temperature; and |
| Claim: | an elongate mandrel having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the of the second sheath, and having a heated proximal end, such that as the heated proximal end of the mandrel is forcibly inserted into the second sheath, the shape memory polymer is heated beyond the glass transition temperature and expands to define the second, larger diameter. |
| Claim: | 2. The sheath system of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer material is a polyurethane material with a tightly controlled glass transition temperature of about 45 degrees Celsius. |
| Claim: | 3. The sheath system of claim 1 wherein the second sheath further comprises |
| Claim: | a tubular braided material matrix embedded in the shape memory polymer material. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 60416/403; 60416/401; 6041/641 |
| Current International Class: | A61M 5178 |
| Patent References Cited: | 3509883 May 1970 Dibelius 3788318 January 1974 Kim et al. 4401433 August 1983 Luther 4411655 October 1983 Schreck 4451256 May 1984 Weikl et al. 4580573 April 1986 Quinn 4589868 May 1986 Dretler 4668221 May 1987 Luther 4710181 December 1987 Fuqua 4738666 April 1988 Fuqua 4740207 April 1988 Kreamer 4781681 November 1988 Sharrow et al. 4781703 November 1988 Walker et al. 4795426 January 1989 Jones 4846812 July 1989 Walker et al. 4921479 May 1990 Grayzel 4994027 February 1991 Farrell 4994047 February 1991 Walker et al. 5015238 May 1991 Solomon et al. 5015239 May 1991 Browne 5019090 May 1991 Pinchuk 5035686 July 1991 Crittenden et al. 5061254 October 1991 Karakelle et al. 5066285 November 1991 Hillstead 5089005 February 1992 Harada 5092839 March 1992 Kipperman 5139511 August 1992 Gill et al. 5158545 October 1992 Trudell et al. 5167634 December 1992 Corrigan, Jr. et al. 5176659 January 1993 Mancini 5183464 February 1993 Dubrul et al. 5183646 February 1993 Dubrul et al. 5201756 April 1993 Horzewski et al. 5234425 August 1993 Fogarty et al. |
| Primary Examiner: | Kennedy, Sharon |
| Assistant Examiner: | Thompson, Michael M |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Kinney & Lange, P.A. |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.06183443 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |