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:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1995
John Falvai, Peterborough, NH (US);
Frank Bimbo, Peterborough, NH (US);
Richard S Riddle, Keene, NH (US);
TFX Medical Incorporated, Jaffrey, NH (US);
Abstract
A releasably locking dilator/sheath medical introducer device is provided having a dilator with a non-circular cross-sectional shape to enable insertion of a catheter, guide wire and the like into a patient. More particularly, the invention provides an introducer device that has dilator with a non-circular cross-sectional shape, particularly a substantially oval cross-sectional shape, and that comprises a releasable lock for the dilator and the circumscribing sheath components of the device. In preferred embodiments, the introducer device also includes a visual indicator and/or a tactile indicator to conveniently inform a user of the device whether the dilator/sheath assembly is in a locked or unlocked position. In another aspect, a releasably locking introducer device is provided that has a dilator that can rotate within a circumscribing sheath component wherein the dilator includes a proximal end component that can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the device relative to and independently of the dilator and sheath components to releasably lock the dilator within the circumscribing sheath.