SHEATH SUPPORT DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Devices, systems and methods are provided for accessing a target location in the body of a patient, particularly within the epidural space. A system includes a sheath and a sheath support supporting the sheath to reduce or avoid kinking. The sheath support closely fits within the sheath while maintaining free sliding therein. The sheath support has a non-compliant outer diameter maintaining the inner diameter of the sheath and preventing the sheath walls from collapsing into a kink, particularly during low radius bends that may occur during delivery. The sheath support may include a distal tip configured to resist retraction into the sheath until a threshold force is reached which causes the distal tip to at least partially retract into the lumen of the sheath. Likewise, the distal tip may be fully retractable through the sheath so that the sheath support is removable from the proximal end of the sheath.

主权项

1. A system for accessing a target location in an epidural space of a patient, the system comprising:
a sheath having a proximal end, a pre-curved distal end and a lumen having an inner diameter; and a sheath support having a shaft configured to be disposed within the lumen of the sheath and a distal tip, wherein the sheath support is sufficiently flexible to bend according to the pre-curved distal end of the sheath and wherein the sheath support has a non-compliant outer diameter that maintains the inner diameter of the lumen of the sheath so as to resist kinking of the sheath.