A method of inserting a wire guide into a body vessel of a patient for use in introducing a medical interventional device, comprising:
- providing an introducer system, said system comprising an introducer needle having an outer diameter that does not exceed 21 gauge (0.032 inch;
- 0.81 mm) and an inner diameter that does not exceed 0.018 inch (0.46 mm);
- a first wire guide having an outer diameter not less than 0.035 inch (0.89 mm);
- a second wire guide having an outer diameter not greater than 0.018 inch (0.46 mm) and being receivable in a bore of said introducer needle;
- and
- an introducer apparatus comprising an outer sleeve and an inner cannula, said inner cannula removably received in a lumen of said outer sleeve, said outer sleeve having proximal and distal open ends and a profile such that a distal portion of said outer sleeve tapers toward said sleeve distal end at an angle not exceeding 2° with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, said outer sleeve distal open end sized such that said first wire guide is receivable therethrough, said inner cannula having proximal and distal open ends and a lumen extending therethrough, and having a portion that tapers toward the inner cannula distal end, said tapered distal portion of said inner cannula extending distal to the distal open end of said outer sleeve and having a profile such that a generally smooth and gradual diametrical transition is provided from the outer sleeve tapered portion and through said inner cannula open end;
- and
- wherein the greatest radial extent of the inner cannula is not greater than the outer diameter of the outer sleeve;
- injecting said needle into said body vessel;
- guiding said second wire guide through said needle bore such that a distal end of said wire guide extends beyond said needle in said body vessel;
- withdrawing said needle from said body vessel over said second wire guide;
- introducing said introducer apparatus over said second wire guide such that the respective distal ends of said outer sleeve and inner cannula are in said body vessel;
- wherein said introducing step comprises inserting said distal end of said inner cannula into said body vessel at a first insertion force, and inserting said introducer apparatus at a juncture of said outer sleeve distal open end and said inner cannula at a second insertion force, such that said second insertion force does not exceed said first insertion force;
- withdrawing said second wire guide from said introducer apparatus while maintaining the introducer apparatus in the body vessel;
- separating the inner cannula from the outer sleeve, and removing the inner cannula while maintaining the outer sleeve in the body vessel;
- and
- guiding said first wire guide through said outer catheter such that a distal end of said first wire guide extends beyond said outer sleeve in said body vessel.