Expandable access sheath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143491-B2
Application number	US-201514872554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2014
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

Expandable access sheaths and methods for use thereof are disclosed. The access sheath may have an expandable element and flexible membrane. The access sheath may be configured to move between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The access sheath may be biased towards the non-expanded configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dilator access sheath, comprising:
a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the flexible sheath having an expandable element and a flexible membrane and wherein the flexible sheath is designed to move between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and
a hub coupled to the proximal end of the flexible sheath; and
wherein the flexible sheath is biased absent the application of any force towards the non-expanded configuration and configured to move to the expanded configuration via insertion of a device within the lumen of the flexible sheath.

2. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter surface of the flexible sheath in the expanded configuration contacts an outer diameter surface of the device disposed within the lumen of the flexible sheath.

3. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the flexible sheath in the non-expanded configuration is smaller than an outer diameter of the device disposed within the lumen of the flexible sheath.

4. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein the expandable element comprises a plurality of woven filaments.

5. The dilator access sheath of claim 4 , wherein an angle of the filaments at crossing points thereof in the expanded configuration is greater than an angle of the filaments at the crossing points in the non-expanded configuration.

6. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein the expandable element comprises a plurality of braided filaments.

7. The dilator access sheath of claim 6 , wherein an angle of the filaments at crossing points thereof in the expanded configuration is greater than an angle of the filaments at the crossing points in the non-expanded configuration.

8. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein the expandable element comprises one or more helically wound filaments.

9. The dilator access sheath of claim 8 , wherein a pitch of the one or more helically wound filaments in the expanded configuration is less than a pitch of the one or more helically wound filaments in the non-expanded configuration.

10. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein the expandable element is biased toward the non-expanded configuration upon removal of an expansion force.

11. The dilator access sheath of claim 1 , wherein the expandable element is embedded within the flexible membrane.

12. A dilator access sheath assembly, comprising:
an access sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the access sheath having an expandable element and a flexible membrane and the access sheath configured to move between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration;
a dilator having a proximal end and a distal end, the dilator disposed within the lumen of the access sheath and configured to be removable therefrom;
a first hub affixed to the proximal end of the dilator; and
a second hub affixed to the proximal end of the access sheath; and
wherein the access sheath is biased absent the application of any force towards the non-expanded configuration and configured to move to the expanded configuration via insertion of a device within the lumen of the access sheath.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein an inner diameter surface of the access sheath in the expanded configuration contacts an outer diameter surface of the device disposed within the lumen of the access sheath.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the expandable element comprises a plurality of woven or braided filaments.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an angle of the filaments at crossing points thereof in the expanded configuration is greater than an angle of the filaments at the crossing points in the non-expanded configuration.

16. A method, comprising:
positioning a dilator in a lumen of an access sheath so as to expand the access sheath from a non-expanded configuration to a first expanded configuration;
inserting the dilator and access sheath into a body lumen,
gradually dilating the body lumen via a tapered distal tip of the dilator extending distally of a distal end of the access sheath;
advancing the dilator and access sheath assembly to a required destination while the access sheath is in the first expanded configuration;
removing the dilator from the body lumen; and
advancing a device through a lumen of the access sheath to expand the access sheath to the second expanded configuration having a cross-sectional dimension larger than the first expanded configuration.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing the device from the lumen of the access sheath.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein upon removal of the device from the lumen of the access sheath, the access sheath moves to the non-expanded configuration.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the access sheath is biased towards the non-expanded configuration.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein upon removal of the dilator, the access sheath moves to the non-expanded configuration.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Clancy Thomas
• Hera Mark

Classifications

• A61B17/3423 Primary

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• A61B2017/345

  for introduction into a natural body opening · CPC title

• A61B1/0011

  Manufacturing of endoscope parts · CPC title

• A61B2017/00867

  shape memory effect · CPC title

• A61B1/307

  for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes · CPC title