Expandable sheath and methods of using the same
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorsDavid Maimon, Eran Goldberg, Liron Tayeb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The expandable sheath and methods of use disclosed herein are used to deliver a prosthetic device through a patient's vasculature. The sheath is constructed to be expandable in the circumferential direction, while maintaining sufficient stiffness in the longitudinal direction to withstand pushing and resist kinking. The sheath includes a plurality of curved arms extending outwardly from a longitudinally extending spine. The curved arms move away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath when pushed radially outwardly by a passing prosthetic device, and move back toward the longitudinal axis once the prosthetic device has passed.
Claims20
An expandable sheath for delivering a prosthetic device, the expandable sheath comprising:
- a first layer comprising:
- a first longitudinally extending spine extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sheath, and
- a first plurality of curved arms attached to and extending away from the first longitudinally extending spine and around the longitudinal axis in a circumferential direction, and
- a second layer positioned around the first layer, the second layer comprising;
- a second longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the first layer and a distal end of the second layer,
- a second longitudinally extending spine extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheath, and
- a second plurality of curved arms attached to and extending away from the second longitudinally extending spine and around the longitudinal axis, the second plurality of curved arms at least partially overlaying the first plurality of curved arms,
- wherein longitudinal motion is restricted between the first layer and the second layer, and
- wherein the second plurality of curved arms are configured to slide circumferentially along the first plurality of curved arms.
An expandable sheath comprising:
- a plurality of curved arms rotationally coupled at their proximal end along a spine, the spine extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the sheath, each of the plurality of curved arms including a ridge projecting from an end surface of the curved arm and a correspondingly shaped groove provided in an opposite end surface of the curved arm, such that a ridge of a first curved arm of the plurality of curved arms is received within and slidingly engages the groove of an adjacent curved arm;
- wherein the plurality of curved arms define a longitudinally extending lumen;
- and
- wherein the plurality of curved arms move away from the central longitudinal axis of the sheath to an expanded state when exposed to a radially outwardly directed force, and the plurality of curved arms move toward the central longitudinal axis upon release of the force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.