Self-sealing guidewire and catheter introducer

An introducer adapted to be inserted into a patient's blood vessel comprising:

• a housing having an introducer sheath extending from an end of the housing, the sheath being adapted to be inserted into a patient's blood vessel, the housing having an opening at the other end;
• a self-sealing one piece gasket mounted in the housing and being exposed at the opening, the gasket having a central aperture in its outwardly facing surface, the aperture depth being substantially equal to one-half the thickness of the gasket, the inwardly facing surface of the gasket being formed with at least three radially extending slits, the depth of the slits being greater than one-half of the thickness of the gasket so that the slits extend into the surrounding radial wall defining the central aperture, the central region of the slits overlapping the central aperture and defining a plurality of flaps normally closing the aperture, the gasket being adapted to receive a guidewire or a catheter extended therethrough;
• the radius of the central aperture being substantially smaller than the radius defined by each of the slits;
• and,
• the central aperture and the slits being dimensioned to seal a wide range of guidewires or catheters having differing diameters extended therethrough.