Introducer sheath and introducer assembly

摘要

An introducer sheath, which is formed from a tubular member provided with a hollow portion through which an elongated body is freely insertable, and which includes a distal portion and a main body portion, wherein the inner diameter of the distal portion is formed to become gradually smaller toward the distal side, and on the inner surface of the distal portion, there is provided a hydrophobic coating having a friction coefficient lower than the friction coefficient of the tubular member.

主权项

1. An introducer sheath comprising:
an elongated tubular member possessing a distal-most end and configured to be inserted in a living body tissue, the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member having an opening, the tubular member including a distal portion and a main body portion portion; the distal portion terminating distally at the distal-most end of the tubular member, the distal portion possessing an outer surface; the main body portion having a distal-most end connected to and extending proximally from a proximal-most end of the distal portion so that the main body portion is located entirely proximally of the distal portion, the main body portion possessing an outer surface; the elongated tubular member including a through hole extending throughout a longitudinal extent of the tubular member and opening to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member, the through hole being configured to receive an elongated body, the through hole possessing an inner diameter; the distal portion of the elongated tubular member being comprised of a taper portion in which the inner diameter of the through hole gradually and continuously tapers to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member so that the inner diameter is smallest at the distal-most end of the tubular member, the taper portion possessing an outer surface; a hydrophilic lubricating coating on an outer surface of the main body portion; a hydrophobic coating on the inner surface of the through hole in the taper portion, the hydrophobic coating extending proximally from the distal-most end of the tubular member toward the main body portion; the hydrophobic coating possessing a friction coefficient lower than a friction coefficient of the hydrophilic lubricating coating before the hydrophilic lubricating coating contacts liquid; wherein the taper portion possesses an outer diameter that gradually and continuously tapers to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member so that the outer diameter is smallest at the distal-most end of the tubular member; and a hydrophobic coating covering the entire outer surface of the taper portion of the distal portion of the elongated tubular member.