Patent ID: 8790387
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sheath for introducing a prosthetic device into a body, comprising: a continuous inner layer defining a lumen therethrough, the inner layer having at least one folded portion; and a discontinuous outer layer having an overlapping portion and an underlying portion, wherein the outer layer is configured so that the overlapping portion overlaps the underlying portion, wherein at least a portion of the folded portion of the inner tubular layer is positioned between the overlapping and underlying portions, and wherein at least a portion of the sheath is configured to expand to accommodate the prosthetic device; wherein the sheath defines a longitudinal axis and a distal opening at the terminal distal end of the sheath, the distal opening facing in an axial direction extending along the longitudinal axis such that the prosthetic device can be advanced through the lumen and outwardly through the distal opening in the axial direction into the body; wherein the at least a portion of the sheath is configured such that the sheath locally expands from a rest configuration in which the lumen has a first diameter to an expanded configuration in which the lumen has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter due to an outwardly directed radial force exerted by the prosthetic device against the inner layer, and then locally contracts at least partially back to the rest configuration as the prosthetic device passes through the lumen.