Split sheath introducer and method of manufacturing a split sheath introducer
AssigneeArgos Corporation
InventorsPerry Cicalis, Jim Prue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A splittable introducer sheath includes a tubular body portion formed from a first material and at least one stripe extending an entire length of the main body portion, the at least one stripe being formed form a second material. The first material is one of a medium-density polyethylene modified with a friction-reducing additive or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) modified with a friction-reducing additive. The second material is a thermoplastic elastomer modified with a siloxane additive. The sheath is dividable longitudinally along the at least one stripe.
Claims8
A method of manufacturing a splittable introducer sheath, comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously extruding a generally tubular main body portion, and two diametrically opposed stripes extending longitudinally along the main body portion;
- wherein the main body portion is comprised of a first material that is one of a medium-density polyethylene modified with a friction-reducing additive or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) modified with a friction-reducing additive;
- and
- wherein the stripes are comprised of a second material that is a thermoplastic elastomer modified with a siloxane additive;
- wherein the friction-reducing additive is a siloxane additive;
- wherein the second material has a Shore A durometer of between about 37 and about 53;
- and wherein the stripes have a width in a circumferential direction between about 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches.
A method of manufacturing a splittable introducer sheath, comprising the steps of:
- coextruding a first material and a second material to form a generally tubular main body portion comprised of the first material and at least one longitudinal stripe comprised of the second material;
- wherein the first material is one of a medium-density polyethylene modified with a friction-reducing additive or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) modified with a friction-reducing additive;
- and
- wherein the second material is a thermoplastic elastomer modified with a siloxane additive;
- wherein the friction-reducing additive is a siloxane additive;
- wherein the second material has a Shore A durometer of between about 37 and about 53;
- and wherein the at least one longitudinal stripe has a width in a circumferential direction between about 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.