Patent ID: 7329268

Claim:
A percutaneous access sheath assembly comprising: an elongate tubular structure, a first portion of said elongate tubular structure being expandable from a first cross-sectional profile to a second cross-sectional profile; a releaseable sheath further comprising: a proximal end; a restraint section; a distal end; and a first tapering point located at a transition between said proximal end and said restraint section, said first tapering point causing a reduction in the cross-sectional profile of said releasable sheath to a smaller cross-sectional profile of said restraint section and wherein said restraint section restrains at least a portion of said first portion in said first cross-sectional profile; and a balloon positionable inside said elongate tubular structure, wherein inflation of the balloon causes at least a portion of said first portion to expand said restraint section of the releasable sheath to tear, and the balloon is removable from said elongate tubular structure after it has expanded and at least partially deflated; wherein the first tapering point is present before said balloon is inflated.