Patent ID: 8152767

Claim:
An introducer apparatus, comprising: an outer sleeve having proximal and distal open ends, and having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said outer sleeve having a profile such that at least a portion of said outer sleeve tapers toward said outer sleeve distal end at an angle not exceeding about 2° relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, said outer sleeve having a distal open end sized such that a first wire guide is receivable therethrough, said distal open end of said outer sleeve having a wall thickness not exceeding about 0.003 inch; and an inner cannula having proximal and distal open ends, and having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said inner cannula sized to be received within the lumen of said outer sleeve, said inner cannula having a portion that tapers toward the inner cannula distal end, said inner cannula distal open end sized such that a second wire guide is receivable through said inner cannula distal open end and said first wire guide is not receivable through said inner cannula distal open end, said tapered distal portion of said inner cannula extending distal to the distal open end of said outer sleeve and having a profile such that a generally smooth and gradual diametrical transition is provided from the outer sleeve tapered portion and through said inner cannula open end; and wherein the greatest radial extent of the inner cannula is less than the inner diameter of the outer sleeve.