# US 11,433,222 B2 · Sheath for maintaining position in a body cavity

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- Number: US 11,433,222 B2
- Document ID: US11433222B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/552,250
- Filed: 2016-02-22
- Published: 2018-02-01
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-20
- Assignees: Children's Hospital Los Angeles; University of Southern California
- Applicants: Children's Hospital Los Angeles; University of Southern California
- Inventors: Yaniv Bar-Cohen; Gerald Loeb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433222B2

## CPC

- A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes}
- A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas}
- A61M 25/04: in the body, e.g. expansible {(A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence)}
- A61N 1/362: Heart stimulators (heart defibrillators A61N1/39)
- A61N 1/37205: {Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula}
- A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)}
- A61B 2017/3484: {Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure}
- A61B 2017/3488: {Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue}
- A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials
- A61M 2210/122: Pericardium
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

The present invention provides a novel design for sheaths intended for medical procedures. The sheath includes structures that anchor the sheath in a cavity or space when deployed but are at the same time retractable such that the sheath can be removed without tearing the tissue defining the space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sheath for implanting a medical device or medical equipment into a body cavity of a patient, said sheath comprising:
a sheath wall comprising at least one anchoring element disposed at a distal portion of the sheath, said anchoring element comprising a distal tip and a proximal tip,
wherein said anchoring element is in the form of a hinge or hook,
wherein said sheath wall is pre-formed to cause the proximal tip of the hinge or hook to extend from a generally cylindrical surface of the sheath wall when not forced to remain substantially in the same shape as the remaining portion of the sheath wall by pressure exerted on the distal tip of the hinge or hook by a structure disposed within the lumen of the sheath, and
wherein extension of the proximal tip of the hinge or hook away from the generally cylindrical surface of the sheath wall extends the distal tip of the hinge or hook into the lumen of the sheath, and creates an anchor that retains the distal tip of the sheath within the body cavity by contact of proximal tip of the anchor with a body cavity surface,
wherein contact of the distal tip of the hinge or hook with an outer surface of a mechanical element of sufficient diameter into the lumen of the sheath causes retraction of the hinge or hook, thus disabling the anchoring function and allowing removal of the sheath without tearing of the body cavity surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises nitinol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the sheath wall comprises a memory-shape material or superelastic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the body cavity is defined by the pericardium.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element includes a spring hinge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the structure disposed within the lumen of the sheath comprises a dilator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the sheath is adapted to be locked into the body cavity when the sheath is empty.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the mechanical element comprises a pacemaker.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The sheath of claim 1, wherein the mechanical element comprises a disc having an electrode attached thereto.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The sheath of claim 10, wherein the electrode is corkscrew shaped.