Patent ID: 11883285
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method, comprising:
providing an introducer device for introducing a medical device into a patient's vasculature, the introducer device comprising a housing, a hemostatic seal mounted within the housing, and a tube extending into the housing and movable longitudinally relative to the hemostatic seal between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein when in the proximal position a distal end of the tube is positioned proximal to the hemostatic seal;
moving an end piece coupled to the tube longitudinally to cause corresponding distal movement of the tube to the distal position such that the distal end of the tube extends through the hemostatic seal, wherein when the tube is in the distal position at least a portion of the end piece extends coaxially over at least a section of a proximal end portion of the housing corresponding to a location at which at least a portion of the hemostatic seal is mounted within the housing, such that a vertical plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing intersects the section of the housing, the hemostatic seal, and the end piece; and
inserting a distal end portion of the medical device through the tube and into the patient's vasculature without contacting the hemostatic seal.