| CPC A61M 25/0668 (2013.01) [A61M 29/02 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0004 (2013.01); A61M 25/0023 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0024 (2013.01); A61M 2029/025 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |

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1. A system for inserting a guide catheter into a relatively small vessel, the system comprising:
an expandable introducer configured for inserting into the vessel, expanding to dilate the vessel, and holding the vessel in an open condition, wherein the introducer includes a body portion having a plurality of perforations, wherein, prior to perforating the perforations, the body portion comprises a continuous tubular structure; and
a dilator configured for arrangement within the introducer and for dilating the introducer, wherein the dilator expands the introducer by breaking the perforations;
wherein the expandable introducer is removable from a catheter extending therethrough.
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