Patent ID: 8337518
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. An expandable endovascular access sheath adapted for providing minimally invasive access to the left atrium, comprising: an axially elongate sheath tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central through lumen; a distal region of the sheath which is expandable in circumference in response to outward pressure applied therein, the distal region of the sheath comprising at least one diametrically expandable region that comprises a malleable reinforcement structure in which the at least one diametrically expandable region is longitudinally folded into a reduced cross-sectional profile and can be expanded to a second cross-sectional configuration in which the at least one diametrically expanded region is unfolded into a larger cross-sectional profile; a hub affixed to the proximal end of the sheath tube, the hub adapted to facilitate the passage of instrumentation, the hub comprising a valve; a central obturator, which serves to occlude the central lumen of the sheath during insertion further comprising a hub that releasably locks to the hub of the sheath; and a guidewire lumen within the obturator, capable of passing over standard medical guidewires and which will allow the obturator and sheath to track over said guidewires through tortuosity such as that found tracking into the right and left atria, and any transitions therebetween; wherein the obturator is a balloon dilator capable of expanding the distal region of the sheath from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration; a hemostasis adapter comprising an adapter hub and a adapter tubing configured to be inserted into the valve of the hub on the proximal end of the sheath tube, the adapter tubing including an enlargement configured to pass through the valve of the hub.