Importance

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Abstract

An introducer sheath includes a connector body having an inlet and an outlet; a flexible tube for intravenous use at the outlet, including a helical coiled spring having a plurality of coils, each coil spaced from an adjacent coil, and a thin cylindrical wall prepared from a protective coating composition completely surrounding the spring to define an inner and an outer wall surface, the portion of the cylindrical wall surrounding each coil having a first thickness and the portion of the cylindrical wall between the spaced coils having a second, smaller thickness, with the inner and outer wall surfaces being indented thereat, the coating composition comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material dissolved in a solvent solution, the composition having a solids content ranging from about 4% to about 18%, and said solution comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethylformamide, cyclohexane, and mixtures thereof, formed on a helical coiled spring by dipping the latter therein and then drying at room temperature; and a valve assembly including a first elastic membrane having a central aperture, and a second elastic membrane in sealing contact with the first elastic membrane and having a slit extending therethrough at an angle to the direction of fluid flow in the introducer sheath, the slit being in fluid communication with the central aperture.

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First Claim