Access sheath with valve assembly

An access sheath configured to be disposed along a guidewire into a puncture of a vessel, the access sheath comprising:

• a hub having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end;
• a cartridge carried by the hub, the cartridge having a first valve, a second valve spaced from the first valve along a central axis, and a spacer disposed between the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first valve and the second valve each have at least two slits that extend along, and twist about, the central axis;
• and
• a shaft assembly having a shaft hub coupled to the hub and disposed relative to the cartridge in a distal direction along the central axis, and a shaft that extends from the shaft hub in the distal direction.

A vascular closure system configured to seal a puncture in a vessel, the vascular closure system comprising:

• an access sheath configured to be inserted into the vessel, the access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along a central axis, the access sheath further including
• a) a hub;
• b) a cartridge carried by the hub, the cartridge having a first valve, a second valve spaced from the first valve along the central axis, and a spacer disposed between the first valve and the second valve, the first valve and the second valve each having at least two slits that extend along the central axis;
• c) a shaft assembly having a shaft hub coupled to the hub and disposed relative to the cartridge in a distal direction along the central axis, and a shaft that extends from the shaft hub in the distal direction to define the distal end of the access sheath;
• and
• d) an access channel that extends from the proximal end at the hub to the distal end along the central axis;
• and
• a deployment assembly having a sealing element configured to seal the puncture in the vessel, wherein the deployment assembly is insertable into the access channel and into engagement with the first valve and the second valve such that the first valve and second valve stretch around the deployment assembly.

A method, comprising:

• placing a first valve inside a sheath hub of a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly including an elongated shaft that extends from the sheath hub;
• coupling the sheath hub to a cartridge with a tool;
• placing a second valve in the cartridge adjacent a spacer such that the second valve is spaced apart and aligned with the first valve, wherein the first valve and the second valve each have at least two slits;
• and
• inserting an assembly of the cartridge and the sheath hub to a hub to form an access sheath.