Patent ID: 6979318
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter introducer comprising: a tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of said tube for accommodating a catheter traveling along a longitudinal axis of said tube; and a head portion coupled to said distal end of said tube, said head portion including an aperture in fluid communication with said lumen at a proximal end thereof and a tip at a distal end thereof, an exterior surface extending from said proximal end thereof to an opening of said head portion along a first portion of said head portion and extending from said proximal end thereof to said tip along an opposing portion of said head portion and an interior surface extending from said aperture to said opening of said head portion along said first portion of said head portion and extending from said aperture toward said tip along said opposing portion of said head portion; wherein said opening is bounded to establish a smooth concave side profile; wherein said exterior surface circumferentially tapers from a head proximal portion to said distal end of said head portion; wherein walls defining the head portion have substantially constant thickness, and the distal tip of the head portion is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis; wherein said tip of said head portion is within planes which are tangent to an outer surface of said tube at the distal end of said tube; and said interior surface forms a channel for receiving a catheter passing through said lumen and said aperture, said channel being concave along at least one axis.