Patent ID: 9415186
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A method of positioning a hemodialysis catheter within a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of: forming an opening within the blood vessel; inserting an introducer sheath into the opening, the introducer sheath comprising a tubular body including a distal region including a penetrating portion having a first configuration which is tapered towards a distal opening of the introducer sheath, a distal portion of the introducer sheath being separable and fully removable from a proximal tubular portion of the introducer sheath via perforations; dilating the opening in the blood vessel with the penetrating portion of the introducer sheath; passing the hemodialysis catheter into the introducer sheath; and expanding the penetrating portion to a second configuration to accommodate the passage of the hemodialysis catheter therethrough.