Patent ID: 9095684
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A bidirectional introducer, comprising a catheter including: a sheath; and a dilator located within and substantially coaxially with the sheath, the dilator having a distal end portion that includes a first section having a proximal first section end and a distal first section end, a second softer section having a proximal second section end and a distal second section end, a third reinforced section having a proximal third section end and a distal third section end, and a fourth section having a proximal fourth section end and a distal fourth section end, wherein a) the distal first section end is coupled to the proximal second section end, the distal second section end is coupled to the proximal third section end, and the distal third section end is coupled to the proximal fourth section end and b) i) at least a portion of the first section is characterized by a first rigidity and at least a portion of the second softer section is characterized by a second rigidity that is lower than the first rigidity, ii) at least a portion of the third reinforced section is characterized by a third rigidity that is higher than both the first rigidity and the second rigidity, and iii) at least a portion of the fourth section is characterized by a fourth rigidity that is lower than the third rigidity and higher than the second rigidity.