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:
Oct. 06, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 09, 2015
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Pu Zhou, Irvine, CA (US);
Erik Bulman, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Timothy A. Geiser, Laguna Niguel, CA (US);
Michael G. Valdez, Riverside, CA (US);
Yidong M. Zhu, Irvine, CA (US);
Baigui Bian, Irvine, 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 Kiran Gowdar, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A delivery sheath includes an elastic outer tubular layer and an inner tubular layer having a thick wall portion integrally connected to a thin wall portion. The inner tubular layer can have a compressed or folded condition wherein the thin wall portion folds onto an outer surface of the thick wall portion under urging of the elastic outer tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer stretches and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. Once the implant passes, the outer tubular layer again urges the inner tubular layer into the compressed condition with the sheath reassuming its smaller profile. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion and collapse, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.