主权项 |
1. An introducer assembly including a sheath or catheter having a lumen and designed for endoluminal placement in a patient, and a positioning device locatable around the sheath or catheter, the positioning device including a locking device configurable between a locking condition and a releasing condition and including a coil spring provided with at least one turn, wherein the sheath or catheter is locatable within the at least one turn of the coil, the positioning device being movable along the sheath or catheter when the locking device is in the releasing condition and being fixed in position on the sheath or catheter when the locking device is in the locking condition, the at least one turn applying a substantially even radial compressive force to the sheath or catheter in all radial directions such that when in the locking condition the positioning device does not reduce the diameter of the sheath or catheter lumen, the positioning device being operable to mark and fix a percutaneous entry point of the sheath or catheter so as to fix the position of the latter in the patient, wherein the coil spring comprises first and second free ends terminating in first and second release tabs respectively, and including a spring housing for holding the coil spring, the housing having first and second gripper panels coupled to the first and second release tabs. |