The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 21, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2018
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Pu Zhou, Irvine, CA (US);
Yong Gao, Irvine, CA (US);
Erik Bulman, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Baigui Bian, Irvine, CA (US);
Yidong M. Zhu, Irvine, CA (US);
David D. Williams, Bountiful, UT (US);
Timothy A. Geiser, Laguna Niguel, CA (US);
Michael G. Valdez, Riverside, CA (US);
Sonny Tran, Westminster, CA (US);
Richard D. White, Poway, CA (US);
Thanh Huy Le, Oceanside, CA (US);
Tung T. Le, Irvine, CA (US);
Alpana K. Gowdar, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
An expandable introducer sheath for passage of implant delivery catheters, such as catheters for delivery of prosthetic heart valves. The expandable sheath balances the amounts, shapes and positions of various stiff and elastic structures in the sheath to selectively program the expandability and buckling stiffness of the sheath. The expandable sheath can include, for example, an expandable tubular layer that includes alternating stiff and elastic wall portions of a single radial thickness. The combination of stiff and elastic wall portions allow for torque and push strength to advance the expandable sheath while at the same time accommodating temporary expansion. The expandable sheath can also be reinforced with a tubular layer of braided fibers or a stent structure for additional strength. Other embodiments include selective use of slots or gaps at the distal end of a stiff wall portion to enhance expandability and distribute strain.