Sheath introducer apparatus

Claim 1

A sheath introducer, comprising in combination: an intruder including a body portion, a neck portion and a head, said body portion and said head comprising a substantially cylindrical design of substantially same diameter, said neck portion being positioned between said body portion and said head and including a diameter less than that of said head, said neck portion comprises a forwardly converging frusto-conical configuration defining a vertical wall between said neck portion and said head; an expandable and contractible sheath, said sheath being configured and dimensioned to be slid over said body portion of said introducer at least up to said vertical wall and at least a distal tip of said sheath being contracted to be said in position, whereby said head protects said distal tip of said sheath from damage from said sheath introducer introduces said sheath into subcutaneous tissue and whereby said sheath may then be expanded to allow removal of said introducer leaving said sheath in the subcutaneous tissue; and comprising an annular blind slot formed circumferentially therein having an opened end extending through said wall allowing said tip of said sheath to be contracted and positioned therein for protection from damage by said head.

Claim 9

A method for introducing a sheath into subcutaneous tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting a hypodermic needle through the subcutaneous tissue into the desired location; inserting an elongated guide member through said hypodermic needle into the desired location; withdrawing the hypodermic needle leaving the guide member in the desired location; concentrically positioning an expandable and contractible sheath over an introducer having a head frusto-conical shaped neck portion and a head and contracting a distal tip of the sheath about said frusto-conical shaped neck portion to be protected from damage by the head of the introducer, said step of contracting the distal tip of the sheath comprising inserting the tip into an annular blind slot positioned circumferentially within the head; inserting a proximal end of the guide member into a longitudinal hole in the introducer and guiding the introducer and the sheath mounted thereon along the guide member into the desired location; expanding the tip of the sheath allowing the head of the introducer to be withdrawn; and withdrawing the introducer leaving the sheath in the desired location.

Claim 10

A method for introducing a sheath into subcutaneous tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting a hypodermic needle through the subcutaneous tissue into the desired location; inserting an elongated guide member through said hypodermic needle into the desired location; withdrawing the hypodermic needle leaving the guide member in the desired location; concentrically positioning an expandable and contractible sheath over an introducer having a head frusto-conical shaped neck portion and a head and contracting a distal tip of the sheath about said frusto-conical shaped neck portion to be protected from damage by the head of the introducer, said step of contracting the distal tip of the sheath comprising inserting the tip into an annular blind slot positioned circumferentially within the head; inserting a proximal end of the guide member into a longitudinal hole in the introducer and guiding the introducer and the sheath mounted thereon along the guide member into the desired location; expanding the tip of the sheath allowing the head of the introducer to be withdrawn; and withdrawing the introducer leaving the sheath in the desired location.