Patent ID: 8012143
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An introducer sheath having a curved portion configured to generally match the curved epicardial surface of a heart, said sheath comprising a tubular body having a longitudinal axis extending there through, the tubular body including a proximal zone having a distal end, an intermediate zone having a distal end and a distal zone having a distal end defining an opening at the distal tip of the tubular body, wherein the proximal zone is generally straight along its entire length (L PZ ), the intermediate zone extends from the distal end of the proximal zone and curves along its entire length (L IZ ) in a first direction, and the distal zone extends from the distal end of the intermediate zone and curves along its entire length (L DZ ) in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the combined effect of the curves of the intermediate and distal zones results in the portion of the longitudinal axis extending through the distal tip of the tubular body being nearly parallel to the portion of the longitudinal axis extending through the proximal zone, wherein the length of the intermediate zone (L IZ ) is less than the length of the distal zone (L DZ ) and the length of the distal zone (L DZ ) is less than the length of the proximal zone (L PZ ), and wherein the intermediate zone and the distal zone define the curved portion and the curved portion is arranged with respect to the proximal zone so as to sweep about the heart upon rotation of the proximal zone about the longitudinal axis.