| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and methods for accessing body lumens, e.g., vessels within a patient's vasculature, and/or for delivering instruments into the body lumens (e.g., within the patient's vasculature). <P>SOLUTION: A flexible sheath, which is expandable from a contracted condition to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen therein is provided. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible/expandable guide for delivering fluids and/or the instruments through tortuous anatomy and/or into relatively narrow passages. The sheath is advanced from an entry site to the body lumen in the contracted condition. Once the sheath reaches the target body lumen, the sheath is expanded to the enlarged condition, thereby defining the lumen within the sheath, and the fluids and/or instruments are introduced into the body lumen via the sheath lumen. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath is removed from the body lumen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
