Mary T Griffin

US Patent:

20100268123, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Apr 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/424707

Inventors:

Mark J. Callahan - Medway MA, US
Linda D'Elia - Westfield MA, US
Mary Jo Griffin - Bellingham MA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

A61M 25/01
A61B 5/11

US Classification:

600588, 60416401

Abstract:

An introducer adapted to facilitate positioning of a catheter, such as an intrauterine catheter, is provided. The introducer includes an elongate member having an outer wall defining a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal lumen for reception of a catheter, e.g., an intrauterine catheter. The outer wall includes first and second longitudinal edges defining a longitudinal slot in communication with the longitudinal lumen. The outer wall has a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and defining a thickness at an opposed location generally opposing the longitudinal slot greater than a thickness at edge locations adjacent the first and second longitudinal edges, to thereby permit the first and second longitudinal edges to be displaced relative to each other to increase a dimension of the longitudinal slot to facilitate one of removal or insertion of the catheter via the longitudinal slot and relative to the longitudinal lumen. The thickness of the outer wall may be dimensioned to gradually decrease from the opposed location to the edge locations. The ratio of the thickness of the outer wall at the opposed location to the thickness of the outer wall at the edge locations is about 2:1. The outer wall may define a generally c-shaped cross-section.