Patent ID: 11883288
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 12:
13. An expandable sheath comprising:
a plurality of curved arms rotationally coupled at their proximal end along a spine, the spine extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the sheath, each of the plurality of curved arms including a ridge projecting from an end surface of the curved arm and a correspondingly shaped groove provided in an opposite end surface of the curved arm, such that a ridge of a first curved arm of the plurality of curved arms is received within and slidingly engages the groove of an adjacent curved arm;
wherein the plurality of curved arms define a longitudinally extending lumen; and
wherein the plurality of curved arms move away from the central longitudinal axis of the sheath to an expanded state when exposed to a radially outwardly directed force, and the plurality of curved arms move toward the central longitudinal axis upon release of the force.