Introducer assembly and dilator tip therefor

An introducer assembly for the deployment of medical devices within a lumen of a patient;

• the assembly including a sheath member provided with at least one lumen therein for housing an implantable medical device or medical treatment apparatus, and a dilator tip extending beyond a distal extremity of the sheath member;
• the dilator tip including a proximal part, a bore, proximal end, a distal end, and a thickness in a direction orthogonal to an axis between the proximal and distal ends;
• wherein the dilator tip is, for at least a portion of its extent between the proximal and distal ends, flattened so as to be less in one angular direction relative to another as measured along an axial cross section orthogonal to the axis between the proximal and distal ends;
• and
• wherein the distal end of the dilator tip is flattened;
• the dilator tip being more flexible in one radial orientation relative to another as a result of said flattening;
• the bore extending through the distal end;
• and
• the proximal part becoming progressively narrower towards the proximal end and not tapered in a direction towards the distal end of the dilator tip;
• and
• wherein said proximal part is non-round in axial cross-section;
• and
• wherein said proximal part is substantially flattened in axial cross-section.