Patent ID: 9061116
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. An introducer assembly, comprising: a sheath including proximal and distal ends, an outer surface and an internal surface providing a lumen within the sheath extending between said proximal and distal ends; a pusher rod disposed within said lumen of said sheath, said pusher rod comprising a portion that forms a shoulder; wherein said lumen formed by said internal surface includes a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section extending proximally from the portion that forms the shoulder, the distal section extending distally from the shoulder; wherein the lumen further comprises an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the proximal section being smaller than the inner diameter of the distal section; wherein a length of the sheath extending from the proximal section to the distal section has a constant outer diameter or a constantly varying outer diameter, wherein a first portion of the length extends at least partially into the proximal section and a second portion of the length extends at least partially into the distal section; a strengthening element comprising a braid or a helical coil embedded within a wall of the proximal section and no strengthening element embedded within a wall of said distal section; wherein the shoulder has a larger diameter than said inner diameter of said proximal section; and an implantable medical device disposed within said distal section, said shoulder pushing against said implantable medical device to deploy said implantable medical device as said sheath and said pusher rod are moved relative to each other.