Non-occluding introducer sheath with expandable distal tip anchor

An introducer sheath assembly, comprising;

• a hub;
• an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub to a distal tip of the elongate shaft, the elongate shaft including a lumen extending therethrough;
• a distal tip anchor comprising an expandable framework having a collapsed configuration when positioned within the lumen and an expanded configuration when deployed from the distal tip of the elongate shaft;
• wherein the hub comprises an actuation element operatively connected to the distal tip anchor;
• wherein actuation of the actuation element deploys the distal tip anchor into the expanded configuration.

A method of maintaining vessel patency within a patient, the method comprising:

• positioning an elongate shaft of an introducer sheath within a blood vessel of a patient, the elongate shaft including a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a lumen extending therebetween;
• the introducer sheath further including a hub connected to the proximal end region of the elongate shaft, a distal tip anchor disposed proximate the distal end region, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the distal tip anchor;
• delivering a medical device through the elongate shaft of the introducer sheath into the blood vessel;
• actuating the actuation assembly to deploy the distal tip anchor from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration;
• positioning the distal tip anchor against an inner wall of the blood vessel with the distal tip anchor in the expanded configuration while the medical device remains within the blood vessel.