US20040044359A1 — Sheath tip

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

1 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end thereof; and a tapering member coupled to the sheath and disposed near the distal end of the sheath, the tapering member being adapted and configured to shift between a first position and a second position, such that when the tapering member is in the first position, the tapering member provides the outer sheath with a tapered distal tip.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

1 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end thereof; and a tapering member coupled to the sheath and disposed near the distal end of the sheath, the tapering member being adapted and configured to shift between a first position and a second position, such that when the tapering member is in the first position, the tapering member provides the outer sheath with a tapered distal tip.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering member comprises a nose cone slidably disposed within the lumen.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 56 words

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a shaft having a first end connected to the nose cone and a second end disposed proximate the proximal end of the sheath, wherein the second end can be actuated by a user to shift the nose cone between the first position and the second position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

4 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the nose cone includes a tapered distal surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a marker member coupled to the sheath.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the marker member is coupled to the sheath by folding a portion of the sheath proximally over the marker member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering member includes a bulbous tip disposed at the distal end of the sheath.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sheath includes an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the bulbous tip.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bulbous tip is inflatable by infusing an inflation media through the inflation lumen into the bulbous tip.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tapering member includes a notched tip disposed at the distal end of sheath, the notched tip including a plurality of segments having a notch disposed therebetween.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the segments are formed of a flexible material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein tapering member includes a flexible tip having a housing portion configured for having the filter disposed therein and a tapered tip portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tip portion is configured to expand when the tapering member shifts to the second position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

14 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the tip portion is configured to fold back proximally when the tapering member shifts to the second position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 105 words

15 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; a nose cone slidably disposed within the lumen, the nose cone be adapted and configure to shift between a first position wherein a portion of the nose extends out from the distal end of the sheath and a second position wherein the nose cone is shifted proximally within the lumen; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; and an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 105 words

15 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; a nose cone slidably disposed within the lumen, the nose cone be adapted and configure to shift between a first position wherein a portion of the nose extends out from the distal end of the sheath and a second position wherein the nose cone is shifted proximally within the lumen; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; and an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the nose cone has a tapered distal surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 57 words

17 . The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising an actuating member having a first end connected to the nose cone and a second end disposed proximate the proximal end of the sheath, wherein the second end can be actuated by a user to shift the nose cone between the first position and the second position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 102 words

18 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therethrough, and a longitudinal axis; a rounded distal head disposed at the distal end, the rounded distal head having an opening; wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the lumen and oriented in a direction that is skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheath; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; and an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end of the shaft.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 102 words

18 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; an outer sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therethrough, and a longitudinal axis; a rounded distal head disposed at the distal end, the rounded distal head having an opening; wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the lumen and oriented in a direction that is skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheath; an elongate shaft disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the shaft having a distal end; and an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft near the distal end of the shaft.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 113 words

19 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; a guidewire disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the guidewire having a distal end; an embolic protection filter coupled to the guidewire near the distal end thereof; and a tapering member coupled to the sheath and disposed near the distal end of the sheath, the tapering member having a tapered region; and wherein the tapering member is adapted and configure to shift between a first position wherein at least a portion of the tapered region is disposed at the distal end of the sheath and a second position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 113 words

19 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising; a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough; a guidewire disposed in at least a portion of the lumen, the guidewire having a distal end; an embolic protection filter coupled to the guidewire near the distal end thereof; and a tapering member coupled to the sheath and disposed near the distal end of the sheath, the tapering member having a tapered region; and wherein the tapering member is adapted and configure to shift between a first position wherein at least a portion of the tapered region is disposed at the distal end of the sheath and a second position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

20 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the tapering member comprises a nose cone slidably disposed within the lumen.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 57 words

21 . The assembly of claim 20 , further comprising an actuating shaft having a first end connected to the nose cone and a second end disposed proximate the proximal end of the sheath, wherein the second end can be actuated by a user to shift the nose cone between the first position and the second position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

22 . The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a marker member coupled to the sheath.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

23 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the marker member is coupled to the sheath by folding a portion of the sheath proximally over the marker member.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

24 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the tapering member includes a bulbous tip disposed at the distal end of the sheath.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

25 . The assembly of claim 24 , wherein the sheath includes an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the bulbous tip.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

26 . The assembly of claim 25 , wherein the bulbous tip is inflatable by infusing an inflation media through the inflation lumen into the bulbous tip.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

27 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the tapering member includes a flexible notched tip disposed at the distal end of sheath, the notched tip including a plurality of segments having a notch disposed therebetween.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 21 words

28 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein tapering member includes a flexible tip having a flexible tapered tip portion.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

29 . The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the tip portion is configured to expand when the tapering member shifts to the second position.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 27 words

30 . The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the tip portion is configured to fold back proximally when the tapering member shifts to the second position.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 20 words

31 . The assembly of claim 28 , further comprising a housing portion configured for having the filter disposed therein.

Sheath tip

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