Flexible sheath with varying durometer

摘要

A flexible kink-resistant introducer sheath ( 10 ). The introducer sheath includes an inner liner ( 31 ), a coil ( 33 ) and an outer tube ( 33 ). The inner liner includes a passageway ( 30 ) extending longitudinally therethrough, where a catheter ( 50 ) can be advanced through the passageway. The coil ( 33 ) has a plurality of turns positioned longitudinally and compression fitted around the inner liner ( 31 ), where the turns have a predetermined spacing therebetween. The outer tube ( 20 ) is positioned longitudinally around the coil ( 33 ) and the inner liner ( 31 ), and is connected to the inner liner through the spaces between the turns. A diameter difference between the inner liner and the catheter is in a range of about 0.0005 to about 0.004 inch (0.013 to about 0.10 mm).