Microcatheter tip
AssigneeMerit Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorNicholas Accisano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a dilator having a stiffened shaft for use as part of an introducer sheath assembly. The dilator includes a stiffener tube and a tip of the dilator which extends distally to the dilator stiffener tube. The transition between the stiffener tube and the tip of the dilator is positioned such that when the dilator is positioned within the catheter sheath, the transition is also positioned within the catheter sheath. By positioning the transition between the stiffener tube of the dilator and the tip of the dilator inside the catheter sheath, the catheter sheath can provide strain relief subsequent to lateral movement of the tip of the dilator in a manner that can prevent kinking of the dilator tip at the transition between the stiffener tip and the tip of the dilator.
Claims28
A dilator for use with an introducer sheath assembly, the introducer sheath assembly being adapted to be inserted into the vasculature or body cavity of a patient to position a guidewire, medicine, fluid or other implement into a desired position within the patient, the dilator assembly providing rigidity to the introducer sheath assembly to allow for insertion of the introducer sheath assembly into the patient, the dilator comprising:
- a stiffener tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a dilator tip extending beyond the stiffener tube, a portion of the dilator tip being configured to be positioned inside the catheter sheath, and a portion of the dilator tip configured to be positioned outside the catheter sheath such that the catheter sheath provides strain relief subsequent to forces being exerted on the dilator tip to prevent kinking of the dilator tip at the transition between the stiffener tube and the dilator tip.
An introducer sheath assembly adapted to be inserted into the vasculature or body cavity of a patient to position a guidewire, medicine, fluid or other implement into a desired position within the patient, the introducer sheath assembly comprising:
- a catheter sheath comprising a tubular member adapted to be inserted into a patient;
- a dilator positionable internal to, and along the length of the catheter sheath, the dilator comprising;
- a stiffener tube having a proximal end connected to a dilator hub and a distal end;
- and
- a sleeve positioned external to the stiffener, a distal end of the sleeve extending beyond the distal end of the stiffener and adapted to form a dilator tip;
- wherein the distal end of the stiffener is configured to be positioned inside the catheter sheath, a portion of the dilator tip is positioned inside the catheter sheath, and a portion of the dilator tip is positioned outside the catheter sheath such that the catheter sheath provides strain relief subsequent to lateral movement of the dilator tip to prevent kinking of the dilator tip at the transition between the stiffener tip and the tip of the dilator.
A method of manufacturing a dilator for use with an introducer sheath assembly, the introducer sheath assembly being adapted to be inserted into the vasculature or body cavity of a patient to position a guidewire, medicine, fluid or other implement into a desired position within the patient, the stiffened dilator assembly providing rigidity to the introducer sheath assembly to allow for insertion of the introducer sheath assembly into the patient, the dilator comprising:
- a stiffener tube having a proximal end configured to be connected to a dilator hub and a distal end;
- positioning a sleeve along the length of, and external to, the stiffener;
- and
- applying a heat source to one or both of the stiffener tube and the sleeve to form the stiffener tube to the sleeve, the heat source heating a portion of the sleeve extending beyond the stiffener tip such that flow back of the material from which the sleeve is comprised forms at least a portion of the dilator tip, the flow back of the material providing a contact surface for interaction with the distal end of the stiffener tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.