Patent ID: 8167842

Claim:
A method of introducing a sheath to an internal body location, the method comprising: providing an introducer apparatus; that comprises: a sheath comprising a distal end and a proximal end, a central longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the sheath, a sheath lumen extending through the sheath towards the proximal end of the sheath, and a distal opening in the sheath lumen at the distal end of the sheath; and an introducer extending out of the distal opening of the sheath along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the introducer comprises a blunt distal end, and wherein the introducer further comprises an outer surface that comprises three or more cutting edges extending therefrom, wherein each cutting edge of the three or more cutting edges is aligned on the outer surface of the introducer; advancing the introducer and the sheath through a linear incision at an insertion site over a guidewire that passes through the incision, wherein at least one cutting edge of the three or more cutting edges resects tissue at the insertion site in a direction that is not aligned with the linear incision; withdrawing the introducer in the proximal direction through the sheath lumen after advancing the introducer and the distal end of the sheath through the incision, wherein the sheath remains in position through the incision after withdrawal of the introducer.