Patent ID: 9320873
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. An introducer sheath comprising: an elongated tubular member possessing a distal-most end and configured to be inserted in a living body tissue, the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member having an opening, the tubular member including a distal portion and a main body portion portion; the distal portion terminating distally at the distal-most end of the tubular member, the distal portion possessing an outer surface; the main body portion having a distal-most end connected to and extending proximally from a proximal-most end of the distal portion so that the main body portion is located entirely proximally of the distal portion, the main body portion possessing an outer surface; the elongated tubular member including a through hole extending throughout a longitudinal extent of the tubular member and opening to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member, the through hole being configured to receive an elongated body, the through hole possessing an inner diameter; the distal portion of the elongated tubular member being comprised of a taper portion in which the inner diameter of the through hole gradually and continuously tapers to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member so that the inner diameter is smallest at the distal-most end of the tubular member, the taper portion possessing an outer surface; a hydrophilic lubricating coating on an outer surface of the main body portion; a hydrophobic coating on the inner surface of the through hole in the taper portion, the hydrophobic coating extending proximally from the distal-most end of the tubular member toward the main body portion; the hydrophobic coating possessing a friction coefficient lower than a friction coefficient of the hydrophilic lubricating coating before the hydrophilic lubricating coating contacts liquid; wherein the taper portion possesses an outer diameter that gradually and continuously tapers to the distal-most end of the elongated tubular member so that the outer diameter is smallest at the distal-most end of the tubular member; and a hydrophobic coating covering the entire outer surface of the taper portion of the distal portion of the elongated tubular member.