Patent ID: 8540675

Claim:
An introducer assembly, which comprises: a) a sheath comprising a first lubricious polymeric material extending from a sheath proximal portion to a sheath distal portion with an intermediate portion therebetween, the sheath having an axial passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the sheath proximal portion having an outer surface; and b) a handle assembly of a second lubricious polymeric material and comprising a second passage having an inner surface, c) wherein at least one of the sheath outer surface and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is characterized as having been subjected to a first mechanical surface treatment to thereby form a handle interface, d) wherein the first polymeric material at the sheath proximal portion is directly bonded to the second polymeric material of the handle assembly in an airtight seal between the respective outer and inner surfaces at the handle interface, and e) wherein at least one of the first and second lubricious polymeric materials is PTFE.