Patent ID: 8109908

Claim:
An introducer assembly comprising: a) an elongate introducer sheath extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion, the elongate introducer sheath including a passage therethrough; b) an elongate dilator disposed through the introducer sheath passage and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the dilator distal portion extending out of the sheath passage, tapered to a distal dilator end; and c) a biocompatible and biodegradable shroud covering the distal portions of the introducer sheath and of the dilator, wherein the shroud comprises: i) a 15 wt % mannitol aqueous solution as an inner layer contacting the distal portions of the introducer sheath and of the dilator, and ii) an aqueous solution containing 10 wt % of mannitol and 10 wt % of sodium chloride (NaCl) as an outer shroud layer contacting the inner shroud layer.