Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of: providing an inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; providing a coil having a plurality of turns and an inner diameter less than said outer diameter of said inner tube; providing an outer tube; winding said coil around said inner tube; longitudinally positioning said outer tube around said coil and said inner tube; and connecting said outer tube to said inner tube through spaces between said turns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of: providing an inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; providing a coil having a plurality of turns and an inner diameter less than said outer diameter of said inner tube; providing an outer tube; winding said coil around said inner tube; longitudinally positioning said outer tube around said coil and said inner tube; and connecting said outer tube to said inner tube through spaces between said turns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting said outer tube to said inner tube includes positioning a heat-shrink tube around said outer tube and heating said heat-shrink tube to compress said outer tube through said spaces between said turns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of winding said coil around said inner tube includes rotating said inner tube, expanding said coil, and wrapping said coil when expanded around said inner tube.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath including an inner tube, a coil, and an outer tube, the inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner tube, comprising the steps of: radially expanding the turns of the coil to an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the inner tube; wrapping the turns of the coil when radially expanded longitudinally around the inner tube; connecting the outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of manufacturing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath including an inner tube, a coil, and an outer tube, the inner tube having an outer diameter and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner tube, comprising the steps of: radially expanding the turns of the coil to an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the inner tube; wrapping the turns of the coil when radially expanded longitudinally around the inner tube; connecting the outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising inserting a mandril through the passageway of the inner tube and wherein the step of wrapping the turns of the coil includes rotating the inner tube with the mandril inserted therethrough when the turns of the coil are radially expanded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of roughening an outer surface of the inner tube and wherein the step of connecting the outer tube to the inner tube includes compressing the outer tube through the spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of compressing the outer tube to the inner tube includes positioning a heat-shrink tube around the outer tube and heating the heat-shrink tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of removing the heat-shrink tube from around the outer tube after the outer tube has been compressed through the spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of tapering a distal end of the outer tube after the outer tube has been compressed through the spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tapering a distal end of the outer tube includes grinding the distal end of the outer tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of flaring a proximal end of the inner tube and the outer tube after the outer tube has been compressed through the spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of roughening the outer surface of the inner tube includes chemically etching the outer surface of the inner tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of positioning a radiopaque marker at a distal end of the inner tube adjacent to a distal end of the coil after the coil has been wrapped around the inner tube.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of providing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of: radially expanding a coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of an inner tube; wrapping the radially expanded coil longitudinally around the inner tube; and connecting an outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil wrapped around the inner tube.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of providing a flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath comprising the steps of: radially expanding a coil having a plurality of turns and in a relaxed condition an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of an inner tube; wrapping the radially expanded coil longitudinally around the inner tube; and connecting an outer tube to the inner tube through spaces between the turns of the coil wrapped around the inner tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of inserting a mandril through a passageway of the inner tube and wherein the step of wrapping the coil includes rotating the inner tube with the mandril positioned therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of longitudinally positioning the outer tube around the inner tube and the coil wrapped longitudinally around the inner tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of connecting the outer tube to the inner tube includes compressing the outer tube through the spaces between the turns of the coil.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of compressing the outer tube includes positioning a heat-shrink tube around the outer tube and heating the heat-shrink tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of positioning a radiopaque marker at a distal end of the inner tube adjacent to a distal end of the coil after the coil has been wrapped around the inner tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of tapering a distal end of the outer tube and flaring a proximal end of the inner and the outer tubes.