Patent ID: 7892203

Claim:
An expandable transluminal access sheath adapted for providing minimally invasive access to body lumens or cavities, comprising: an axially elongate sheath tube with a proximal end and a distal end and a central through lumen; a distal region of the sheath tube which is expandable in circumference in response to pressure applied therein, the distal region being folded along one or more longitudinal creases to a diameter smaller than that of the proximal end of the elongate sheath tube and having a composite structure comprising a malleable reinforcement embedded within an outer layer and an inner layer, the malleable reinforcement being folded and holding the distal region in its folded, smaller diameter configuration by overcoming forces imparted by the sheath tube; a hub affixed to the proximal end of the sheath tube, the hub adapted to form a tapered internal lumen to facilitate the passage of instrumentation; a central obturator, which serves to occlude the central lumen of the sheath during insertion; and a guidewire lumen within the obturator, capable of passing standard medical guidewires; wherein the obturator is a balloon dilator and radial expansion of the balloon dilator causes the distal region, including the malleable reinforcement, to expand diametrically to an expanded configuration, with the malleable reinforcement maintaining the distal region in its expanded configuration.