US 12,011,151 B2
Vascular anchoring introducer sheath
Shaun Davis Gittard, Winston-Salem, NC (US); Gregory James Hardy, Asheville, NC (US); John C. Sigmon, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC (US); Jeremy T. Newkirk, West Lafayette, IN (US); William J. Havel, West Lafayette, IN (US); Neal E. Fearnot, West Lafayette, IN (US); Toby Rogers, Washington, DC (US); Kanishka Ratnayaka, Bethesda, MD (US); and Robert L. Lederman, Chevy Chase, MD (US)
Assigned to Muffin Incorporated, West Lafayette, IN (US); and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by Muffin Incorporated, West Lafayette, IN (US); and National Institutes of Health, an Agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/385,230.
Application 17/385,230 is a division of application No. 16/394,182, filed on Apr. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,071,535.
Application 16/394,182 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/058245, filed on Oct. 25, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/412,646, filed on Oct. 25, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0008060 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01); A61M 25/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0218 (2013.01) [A61B 90/39 (2016.02); A61M 25/0041 (2013.01); A61M 25/0045 (2013.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00247 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00557 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00845 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00955 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0225 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0237 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3486 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3925 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61M 2025/0047 (2013.01); A61M 25/0052 (2013.01); A61M 25/0054 (2013.01); A61M 25/0108 (2013.01); A61M 25/0662 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1079 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1093 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of accessing a pericardial cavity of a patient via a right atrial appendage of the patient with an introducer sheath, comprising:
inserting the introducer sheath into the inferior vena cava of the patient, the introducer sheath having a curved medial portion and a linear distal portion, the linear distal portion including an indented portion around the entire circumference and a balloon in a deflated condition within the indented portion so that no part of the balloon extends beyond a maximum outer diameter of the linear distal portion or outside of the indented portion;
moving the introducer sheath to the right atrium of the heart of the patient to a position adjacent the right atrial appendage;
passing the sheath through the right atrial appendage to the pericardial cavity so that the indented portion is within the pericardial cavity;
inflating the balloon within the pericardial cavity, wherein the inflating does not enlarge a hole through the right atrial appendage through which the sheath passes; and
engaging the balloon with tissue of the right atrial appendage that faces the pericardial cavity.