Expandable percutaneous sheath
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsThanh Van Nguyen, George P. Teitelbaum, To V. Pham, Samuel M. Shaolian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration by a removable tubular restraint. In one application, the sheath is utilized to introduce a formed in place orthopedic fixation rod such as for use in spinal fixation procedures.
Claims14
A percutaneous access sheath comprising an elongate tubular structure, at least a portion of said elongate tubular structure being expandable from a first, smaller cross-sectional profile to a second, greater cross-sectional profile, and a releaseable sheath carried by the access sheath to restrain at least a portion of said elongate tubular structure in said first, smaller cross-sectional profile.
A percutaneous access sheath comprising an elongate tubular structure, said elongate tubular structure having a distal section expandable from a first, smaller cross-sectional profile to a second, greater cross-sectional profile, and a releaseable restraint to restrain said distal section of said elongate tubular structure in said first, smaller cross-sectional profile.
A method of providing percutaneous access, said method comprising:
- percutaneously inserting an elongate tubular structure having a first, smaller cross-sectional profile;
- removing a tubular restraint from the elongate tubular structure;
- and
- expanding said elongate tubular structure from said first, smaller cross-sectional profile to a second, greater cross-sectional profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.