Locally flexible dilator sheath
US5507751A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2001/0578
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A locally flexible dilator sheath (10) for separating encapsulating tissue from an implanted cardiac electrical lead. The dilator sheath includes an elongated tubular member (11) of a rigid stainless steel material, which is sized for placement of the tubular member over a cardiac lead that is implanted in the vascular system of a patient. The distal end (13) of the rigid tubular member is beveled to ease the separation of extremely tough tissue that encapsulates an implanted cardiac lead. To ease insertion around curves in the vascular system of the patient, the elongated tubular member includes a relieved portion (14). The relieved portion includes a relief pattern (15) of apertures (16,17,19,23) in the elongated tubular member. The relief apertures preferably include diametrically opposed slots (24,25) that extend perpendicularly into the tubular member. Adjacent pairs (44,45) of slots are circumferentially offset a 90.degree. angle (26) to add further lateral flexibility to the relieved portion. A polyester shrink tube (41) surrounds the relief apertures to provide integrity to the tubular member should the tubular member fracture when separating encapsulating tissue from the i…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.