Patent ID: 7534250

Claim:
An introducer sheath for use in the percutaneous insertion of an article into a body opening, comprising: a sheath body configured to have an axial opening therethrough for passage of said article into said body opening, said sheath body selectively movable between a non-expanded condition and a radially expanded condition, said sheath body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, said proximal portion disposed along a proximal length of said sheath body, said distal portion comprising a folded portion when said sheath body is in said non-expanded condition and an extended portion when said sheath body is in said radially expanded condition; a hemostatic valve member engaged with said sheath body; and an insertion member receivable within said sheath body axial opening for holding said folded distal portion of said sheath body in said non-expanded condition, said insertion member extending within said sheath body axial opening at least substantially from said sheath body proximal portion to said sheath body distal portion, said insertion member comprising a cannula having an inner lumen, and said folded distal portion folded within said inner lumen.