US4983168A — Medical layered peel away sheath and methods

Claim 1

Independent Claim 186 words

A peel away hollow sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: a laterally continuous conduit having an interior surface forming a hollow borehole therethrough and an exterior surface; at least one exterior layer segment securely attached about a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit such that the integral strength of the laterally continuous conduit is not weakened by the at least one exterior layer segment and such that at least one longitudinal axially-directed slot is formed where said at least one exterior layer segment is unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit; and opposed first and second grasping means adjacent a proximal end of the at least one exterior layer segment whereby when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the laterally continuous conduit tears longitudinally adjacent the axially directed slot formed where the at least one exterior layer segment is unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 186 words

A peel away hollow sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: a laterally continuous conduit having an interior surface forming a hollow borehole therethrough and an exterior surface; at least one exterior layer segment securely attached about a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit such that the integral strength of the laterally continuous conduit is not weakened by the at least one exterior layer segment and such that at least one longitudinal axially-directed slot is formed where said at least one exterior layer segment is unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit; and opposed first and second grasping means adjacent a proximal end of the at least one exterior layer segment whereby when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the laterally continuous conduit tears longitudinally adjacent the axially directed slot formed where the at least one exterior layer segment is unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 1 wherein the laterally continuous conduit and the at least one exterior layer segment comprise an identical synthetic resinous material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 1 wherein the laterally continuous conduit and the at least one exterior layer segment are cylindrically shaped.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 1 wherein the laterally continuous conduit and the at least one exterior layer segment are co-extruded simultaneously.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 1 wherein the at least one exterior layer segment is formed separate from but later integrally joined to the laterally continuous conduit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 1 wherein the wall means are selectively color coded.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 163 words

A peel away sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising layered wall means comprising an outside surface and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, said layered wall means comprising a laterally continuous interior layer and exterior layer segments defining opposed longitudinally disposed axially-directed slot means, capable of defining tear lines on the outside surface of said tube means, the interior layer comprising a first synthetic resinous material and the exterior layer segments comprising a second synthetic resinous material; and opposed first and second grasping means at the proximal end of the tube means, such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the tube means tears into two pieces axially along the tear lines at the slot means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 163 words

A peel away sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising layered wall means comprising an outside surface and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, said layered wall means comprising a laterally continuous interior layer and exterior layer segments defining opposed longitudinally disposed axially-directed slot means, capable of defining tear lines on the outside surface of said tube means, the interior layer comprising a first synthetic resinous material and the exterior layer segments comprising a second synthetic resinous material; and opposed first and second grasping means at the proximal end of the tube means, such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the tube means tears into two pieces axially along the tear lines at the slot means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 163 words

A peel away sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising layered wall means comprising an outside surface and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, said layered wall means comprising a laterally continuous interior layer and exterior layer segments defining opposed axially-directed slot means capable of defining tear lines on the outside surface of said tube means, the material comprising the exterior layer segments and the material comprising the interior layer differ one from the other by additive means; and opposed first and second grasping means at the proximal end of the tube means, such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the tube means tears into two pieces axially along the tear lines at the slot means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 163 words

A peel away sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising layered wall means comprising an outside surface and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, said layered wall means comprising a laterally continuous interior layer and exterior layer segments defining opposed axially-directed slot means capable of defining tear lines on the outside surface of said tube means, the material comprising the exterior layer segments and the material comprising the interior layer differ one from the other by additive means; and opposed first and second grasping means at the proximal end of the tube means, such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the tube means tears into two pieces axially along the tear lines at the slot means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 8 wherein the additive means comprise filler means placed in the material from which the interior layer is formed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

A peel away sheath according to claim 8 wherein the additive means comprise radiopaquing means placed in one of said two materials.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 176 words

A peel away hollow sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body side through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a multi-layered wall means having a laterally continuous conduit having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a hollow borehole, said layered wall means further having exterior layer segments securely attached to the exterior surface of said conduit such that the integral strength of the laterally continuous conduit is not weakened by the exterior layer segments and such that the exterior layer segments define opposed axially-directed slots; and opposed first and second grasping means adjacent a proximal end of the exterior layer segments such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the laterally continuous conduit tears longitudinally adjacent the axially directed slots formed where the exterior layer segments are unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 176 words

A peel away hollow sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body side through the sheath, the sheath comprising: tube means of synthetic resinous material having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a multi-layered wall means having a laterally continuous conduit having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a hollow borehole, said layered wall means further having exterior layer segments securely attached to the exterior surface of said conduit such that the integral strength of the laterally continuous conduit is not weakened by the exterior layer segments and such that the exterior layer segments define opposed axially-directed slots; and opposed first and second grasping means adjacent a proximal end of the exterior layer segments such that when the grasping means are manually pulled apart the laterally continuous conduit tears longitudinally adjacent the axially directed slots formed where the exterior layer segments are unattached to the exterior surface of the laterally continuous conduit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-07	1994-07-09	1995-01-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-07	1998-07-09	1999-01-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-07	2002-07-09	2003-01-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Medical layered peel away sheath and methods

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