Expandable sheath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12194256-B2
Application number	US-202217883469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2022
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheath comprising:
an expandable outer member including a lumen extending therethrough;
an inner member extending longitudinally within the lumen of the outer member, the inner member defining a central lumen of the sheath and including a folded portion; and
at least two reinforcing members extending longitudinally along a length of the sheath and embedded within a wall of the inner member;
wherein the inner and outer members are configured to expand; and
wherein expansion of the sheath causes a circumferential distance between the at least two reinforcing members to increase from a first circumferential distance to a second circumferential distance.

2. The sheath of claim 1 , wherein the folded portion at least partially unfolds during expansion of the inner member.

3. The sheath of claim 1 , wherein the folded portion includes one or more folds,
wherein the one or more folds comprise portions of the inner member arranged in an overlapping configuration that move to a less overlapping configuration increasing a diameter of the central lumen of the sheath.

4. The sheath of claim 3 , wherein the one or more folds wrap along an inner surface of the inner member.

5. The sheath of claim 3 , wherein when the sheath is in an unexpanded configuration, overlapping portions of the one or more folds extend longitudinally along a length of the inner member, and the overlapping portions extend generally parallel to and partially around a central longitudinal axis of the sheath.

6. The sheath of claim 3 , further including a second folded portion circumferentially spaced around the inner member from the folded portion.

7. The sheath of claim 6 , wherein the folded portion and the second folded portion at least partially unfold during expansion of the inner member.

8. The sheath of claim 6 , further including a third folded portion circumferentially spaced around the inner member from the folded portion and the second folded portion, wherein the folded portion, second folded portion and third folded portion are equally spaced circumferentially around the inner member.

9. The sheath of claim 8 , wherein the folded portion, second folded portion and third folded portion each at least partially unfold during expansion of the inner member.

10. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members include a first, second and third reinforcing member each extending longitudinally along a length of the sheath, and wherein the at least partially unfolded portions of the folded portion, second folded portion and the third folded portion are at least partially radially aligned with a corresponding portion of a second circumferential distance between the first, second and third reinforcing members.

11. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members are oriented generally parallel to the other, and the at least two reinforcing members extend in a direction generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the sheath.

12. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members and the inner member form a unitary member,
wherein the at least two reinforcing members are manufactured by at least one of coextrusion with the inner member, melting with the inner member, or reflowing with the inner member.

13. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members have a substantially constant width along the length of the at least two reinforcing members.

14. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members have a width that varies along the length of the at least two reinforcing members.

15. The sheath of claim 9 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members include a thickness that varies along the length of the reinforcing member.

16. The sheath of claim 8 , wherein the at least two reinforcing members include a first, second and third reinforcing member each extending longitudinally along a length of the sheath, the first, second and third reinforcing members oriented generally parallel to each other and extending in a direction generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the sheath.

Assignees

• Edwards Lifesciences Corp

Inventors

• Zhou Pu
• Bulman Erik
• Geiser Timothy A
• Valdez Michael G
• Zhu Yidong M
• Bian Baigui
• Tran Sonny
• White Richard D
• Le Thanh Huy
• Le Tung T
• Gowdar Alpana Kiran
• Gao Yong
• Williams David Delon

Classifications

• A61F2/011

  Instruments for their placement or removal · CPC title

• A61M2025/0024

  Expandable catheters or sheaths · CPC title

• A61M25/0023

  by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter · CPC title

• A61F2/958

  Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts · CPC title

• A61F2/2433

  using balloon catheter · CPC title