Greatbatch Ltd.

Medamicus, Inc.

Mark C Kraus

Grant Mauch

Qingshan Ye

Brian Honebrink

Eugene J Champeau

Grant A Mauch

Michael Lange

An introducer assembly includes a sheath having a sheath proximal end and distal end, and a passage therethrough. The introducer assembly further includes a valve assembly that is sealingly associated with the passage of the sheath. The valve assembly includes a valve having a first seal and a second seal, where the first and second seal optionally have different sealing properties. For example, the first seal and the second seal have different thicknesses, different sealing durometers, or otherwise different sealing features. In another option, the sheath is removable from the instrument disposed therethrough. In yet another option, the valve of the valve assembly further includes a chamber disposed between the first and second seals. The seals are spaced to accommodate devices with multiple flow holes therein.

Valved introducer assembly and method therefor

An introducer assembly includes a sheath and a dilator. A biodegradable shroud covers the distal portion of the introducer assembly on the surface of both the sheath and the dilator. The biodegradable shroud dissolves in blood after being exposed for a predetermined time. Afterwards, the dilator can be separated from the sheath without breaking the sheath. The shroud improves movement of the introducer assembly through a venous system by preventing body tissue from getting caught in the space between the dilator and the shroud, for example should a 'fish mouth' separation occur between them.

Biodegradable shroud for a dilator/sheath assembly

An introducing apparatus includes an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, and the sheath has a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. A movable valve assembly is movably engaged with the tab, where the moving valve is adapted to move from a first position to a second position. In the first position the moving valve is disposed through the longitudinal axis of the sheath. In the second position the moving valve assembly is disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

Introducer having a movable valve assembly with removable side port

An introducing apparatus is provided which includes an elongate tubular sheath extending from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end. The sheath has a bore sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath further includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The dilator extends from a dilator proximal end to a dilator distal end. The introducing apparatus further includes a needle disposed within the dilator, and retractably coupled with the dilator. A distal end of the needle is flexible.

Safety introducer apparatus and method therefor

An introducing apparatus includes an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter small enough to be readily insertable in a selected vein. The sheath has a bore which receives therein a dilator such that a distal end of the dilator projects from out from the distal end of the sheath. A rotatable fastener is rotatably coupled with the dilator, and couples the sheath with the dilator and prevents axial movement therebetween. An anti-rotation member is associated with the dilator and/or the sheath, which prevents the dilator from rotating relative to the sheath as the rotatable fastener is rotated, and also included are means which allow a user to overcome the anti-rotation features without damage to or inadvertent separation the sheath.

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Independence, MN, United States of America

Mark C Kraus