PLEATED DEPLOYMENT SHEATH

摘要

A deployment sheath (20) for medical devices (38) is provided that includes one or more pleats (34) in its pre-deployment state that are allowed to open during deployment so as to facilitate easier device deployment and sheath removal. Preferably, the sheath is removed by everting it over itself during the delivery process. By orienting the pleats along the length of the sheath, preferably helically around the sheath, the sheath undergoes a predictable enlargement during deployment so as to relieve friction of the everted sheath sliding along itself during deployment. This allows the sheath to be removed with less tension than previous everting sheath constructions and assures more accurate device placement in a patient.