Patent ID: 8603036

Claim:
A method of treating a patient with a vascular introducer for accessing a circulatory system of a patient, the vascular introducer comprising: a sheath with a fitting attached to a proximal end and including a liner that is longer than a core tube, and a proximal segment of the liner being attached to an inner surface of the core tube, and a distal segment of the liner being everted to cover an outer surface of a distal segment of the core tube; and a dilator positioned in the sheath and including a tapered distal segment extending beyond a distal end of the sheath, and a handle attached to a proximal end that extends proximally from the fitting, comprising the steps of: puncturing an opening through a blood vessel wall into a circulatory system of the patient with a needle; sliding a wire guide through the needle into the circulatory system; withdrawing the needle while leaving the wire guide in place; sliding the vascular introducer over the wire guide, through the blood vessel wall and into the circulatory system while the distal segment of the liner remains everted to cover the distal segment of the core tube; withdrawing the wire guide; decoupling a dilator from the sheath of the vascular introducer by withdrawing the dilator through the proximal segment of the liner of the sheath; and withdrawing the sheath, which includes the core tube and the liner, at least in part by sliding the core tube within a first portion of the everted distal segment of the liner while de-everting another portion of the distal segment of the liner.