Variable stiffness introducer sheath with transition zone

An introducer sheath comprising:

• a lubricious inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, said inner liner having an outer surface;
• a reinforcing member positioned over said inner liner outer surface;
• and
• an outer jacket positioned longitudinally over said reinforcing member and said inner liner, said outer jacket having a proximal portion, and having a transition zone extending in a distal direction therefrom, said proximal portion having a first durometer, said transition zone having a length and having a variable durometer along said length, said variable durometer decreasing along said length from a durometer substantially similar to the first durometer at a junction between said proximal portion and said transition zone.

A method of forming an introducer sheath, comprising:

• providing a generally tubular inner liner;
• positioning a reinforcing member over a length of the inner liner;
• positioning an outer jacket over the reinforcing member and the inner liner, the outer jacket having a higher durometer proximal portion, a lower durometer distal portion, and a transition zone between said proximal portion and said distal portion, said transition zone having a proximal end and a distal end, said transition zone varying in durometer from said transition zone proximal end to distal end to provide a transition between said higher durometer proximal portion and said lower durometer distal portion;
• and
• bonding said outer jacket to an outer surface of said inner liner.