Dilator

Abstract

Abstract A dilator (30) is provided for use with a guide wire (28) to create a subcutaneous tunnel (26) into a blood vessel (20) for subsequent insertion of a catheter over the wire and into the blood vessel. The dilator has an elongate main body (32) with a first cross-section extending about a longitudinal axis and a tip portion (36) extending from the main body longitudinally and terminating at a distal end of the dilator. The main body extends from the tip portion to a proximal end of the dilator, and the tip portion has a leading taper (38) enlarging from the distal end towards a second cross-section smaller than the first cross-section. A trailing taper (40) extends smoothly from the main body and converges from the first cross-section to the second cross-section, and an opening (44) extends between the proximal end distal ends of the dilator for receiving the guide wire. A method of creating a subcutaneous tunnel is also provided.

Inventors

• 👤 Geoffrey S. Martin

Bibliographic Details