Introducer having a movable valve assembly with removable side port

The introducing apparatus comprising:

• an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, the sheath having a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough;
• the sheath extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the sheath comprising a separable sheath;
• the sheath at least one tab including a tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath;
• a moveable valve assembly including a membrane movably coupled relative to the tab, the moveable valve assembly movable from a second position to a first position while an instrument is disposed therethrough, in the first position the membrane of the movable valve assembly is disposed through the longitudinal axis of sheath, in the second position the membrane of the movable valve assembly disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

An introducing apparatus comprising:

• an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, the sheath having a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough, the sheath comprising a separable sheath;
• the sheath extending from a distal end to a proximal end;
• the sheath including at least one tab including a tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath;
• a valve assembly coupled with the tab, the valve assembly including a sealing membrane having a slit therein;
• and
• a means for moving the valve assembly relative to the at least one tab while an instrument is inserted through the bore and through the membrane.

A method comprising:

• inserting an introducing apparatus into a body, the introducing apparatus including an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, the sheath having a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough;
• the sheath extending from a distal end to a proximal end;
• the sheath including at least one tab including a tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath;
• a movable valve assembly movably coupled relative to the tab, the movable valve assembly including a membrane having a line of weakness, the movable valve assembly adapted to seal a longitudinal passage of the sheath;
• and
• inserting an instrument through the membrane;
• and
• moving the valve assembly from a first position to a second positon while the instrument is disposed through the membrane, in the first position the movable valve assembly disposed through the longitudinal axis of the sheath, in the second position the movable valve assembly disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

An introducing apparatus comprising:

• an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, the sheath having a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough, where the sheath is separable;
• the sheath extending from a distal end to a proximal end;
• the sheath including at least one tab including a tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath;
• and
• a valve assembly movably coupled relative to the tab, the valve assembly including a membrane, the valve assembly extending only partially around a perimeter of the membrane, the membrane disposed over the bore in a first position, the valve assembly movable from the first position to a second position away from the bore while an instrument is inserted through the bore and the membrane.