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:
Dec. 12, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2009
Christian Scott Eversull, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Nicholas J. Mourlas, Mountain View, CA (US);
Stephen Arie Leeflang, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Asha Shrinivas Nayak, Menlo Park, CA (US);
David John Miller, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Christian Scott Eversull, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Nicholas J. Mourlas, Mountain View, CA (US);
Stephen Arie Leeflang, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Asha Shrinivas Nayak, Menlo Park, CA (US);
David John Miller, Palo Alto, CA (US);
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing body lumens and/or for delivering instruments into body lumens, e.g., vessels within a patient's vasculature. A flexible sheath is provided that is expandable from a contracted condition to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen therein. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible/expandable guide for delivering fluids and/or instruments through tortuous anatomy and/or into relatively narrow passages. The sheath is advanced from an entry site to a body lumen in the contracted condition. Once the sheath reaches a target body lumen, the sheath is expanded to the enlarged condition, thereby defining a lumen within the sheath, and fluids and/or instruments are introduced into the body lumen via the sheath lumen. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath is removed from the body lumen.