US 11,931,068 B2
Introducer with expandable capabilities
Mimi Trinh Fitterer, Belmont, CA (US); Takashi H. Ino, San Jose, CA (US); Randy S. Gamarra, Santa Clara, CA (US); Floriza Q. Escalona, San Jose, CA (US); Frederick J. Serrahsu, Fremont, CA (US); James M. Anderson, Corcoran, MN (US); and Adam D. Grovender, Maple Grove, MN (US)
Assigned to Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/093,026.
Application 18/093,026 is a continuation of application No. 16/730,467, filed on Dec. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,564,710.
Application 16/730,467 is a continuation of application No. 15/439,998, filed on Feb. 23, 2017, granted, now 10,548,631, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/303,774, filed on Mar. 4, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0148169 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/06 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/3423 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3431 (2013.01); A61B 17/3439 (2013.01); A61B 17/3498 (2013.01); A61M 25/0012 (2013.01); A61M 25/0023 (2013.01); A61M 25/0668 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3454 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61M 2025/0024 (2013.01); A61M 25/0051 (2013.01); A61M 2025/006 (2013.01); A61M 25/0662 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming an expandable introducer, comprising:
modifying a compliant inner liner having a lumen and a distal region by adding at least one reinforcing member having a length and including at least one spine extending along the length of the at least one reinforcing member;
securing at least one folded portion of the compliant inner liner to, and extending along, the distal region;
disposing an outer sheath along at least a portion of the compliant inner liner,
wherein the outer sheath includes at least one perforation;
removing material adjacent to the at least one folded portion from a distal portion of the compliant inner liner to form a tip region; and
disposing a tip member along the tip region.