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:
Mar. 24, 1992
Filed:
May. 31, 1988
Kurt Amplatz, St. Paul, MN (US);
Frank Kotula, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A medical catheter introducer and hemostasis valve assembly consists of a sheath having an elongated tube defining a conduit, a housing disposed at the proximal end of the sheath and further defining a conduit and an orifice, and a flexible elongated dilator sized for insertion through the hub and sheath conduit. The dilator has a tapered distal tip end and defines an axial conduit and an annular ridge having distally- and proximally-directed inclined surfaces. The sheath, when assembled with the dilator, has its distal end immediately adjacent the proximally-directed inclined surface of the ridge. A hemostasis valve for sealing the conduit is disposed in alignment with the conduit, and defines an aperture for passage of dilator and ridge therethrough in sealing engagement, into the conduit, and seals when the dilator is removed. The valve has a housing defining an orifice of a first diameter, and a valve element of a second diameter, greater than the first diameter. The valve is disposed within the orifice and is subject to externally-applied, radially directed forces that cause the valve to assume a dome-shape formation, with a convex surface disposed against the pressure of fluids within the body. As the introducer assembly is introduced into a body over a guidewire extending via a puncture opening into a vessel, the dilator and sheath flex to follow the guidewire, and the tapered end of the dilator and the distally-directed inclined surface of the ridge act to dilate the flesh about the opening to facilitate passage of the sheath. The introducer and valve may be used alone, or respectively with valves or introducers of other design. A base for attachment of the introducer to the patient is also described.