EXPANDABLE PERCUTANEOUS INTRODUCER SHEATH

摘要

An expandable percutaneous introducer sheath (10) is disclosed which can be selectively enlarged to accommodate a range of sizes of interventional devices. The introducer sheath can retain an enlarged size without requiring an additional support member. The introducer sheath (10) comprises an outer tube (11) which contains expandable gaps (16) along the length of the outer tube, expandable leaflets (17) which are connected to the outer tube, an inner tubular member (14) which is insertable into the outer tube, and a detent means (18) to retain the enlarged size of the outer tube. The outer tube has a cross-sectional profile which is both kink resistant and minimizes the size of the puncture wound in the vasculature by providing a helix (15) in the outer tube. An inner tubular member is inserted into the lumen of the outer tube and, because of the interference fit of the lumen outer tube to the outer diameter of the inner tubular member, the lumen of the outer tube enlarges at the expandable gaps.