Catheter introducer sheath assembly

Abstract

A catheter introducer sheath assembly, for introduction into a body passage of a catheter containing a filter comprises a flexible introducer sheath joined to the distal end of a closure device forming a through-passage with a diameter sufficient to pass the catheter therethrough. The closure device has a resilient member in the through-passage and two rotatable body portions, one stationary with respect to the resilient member, and the other rotatable about the axis of the resilient member with an internal cam circumferentially spaced around the axis. A compression member positioned radially in an extending aperture makes contact with both the resilient member and the cam surface to vary the through-passage allowing the operator to manually control the passage of the device. The sheath assembly receives a cathetory guidewire that slides through and extends beyond the closure device and the sheath. In another aspect, the combination sheath assembly and closure device forms a catheter introducer kit constructed to receive a stabilizer and a catheter of sufficiently large diameter to house a vena cava filter, and to pass the filter through the closure device and sheath for placement in the body by means of a dilator attached to the end of the sheath to facilitate guiding the filter to the desired position for its release from the sheath. The closure device is adjustable to prevent any backflow of fluid such as blood from the assembly during the filter placement procedure.