EXPANDABLE INTRODUCER SHEATH

1 . An introducer sheath comprising:

a hub portion having a lumen formed therein;

a tubular portion extending from the hub portion, the tubular portion comprising at least one elastic portion elastically deformable to increase a cross sectional area of the tubular portion.

2 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , the hub portion further comprising a valve member.

3 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , wherein the hub portion and the tubular portion are formed as a unitary member using one of an injection molding process or a co-extrusion process such that a distal end of the hub portion transitions to a proximate end of the tubular portion, the introducer sheath further comprising a strain relief at the transition.

4 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion further includes a sheath portion comprising a first material, and the elastic portion comprising a second material including an elastomer.

5 . The introducer sheath of claim 4 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a plurality of strips and the sheath portion comprises a plurality of strips, each strip of the elastic portion being bonded to adjacent strips of the sheath portion.

6 . The introducer sheath of claim 5 , each strip of the elastic portion includes an interlocking feature to attach with adjacent strips of the tubular portion.

7 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion further comprises an entry portion at a distal end, the entry portion facilitating entry of a medical device that is being withdrawn back through the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion expands to accommodate the medical device without splitting the tubular member.

8 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , the elastic portion comprising a plurality of lumens formed in a wall of the tubular portion, the plurality of lumens providing elasticity to the sheath portion.

9 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , an inner wall of the tubular member including a geometric pattern.

10 . The introducer sheath of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid port extending from the hub portion.

11 . An introducer sheath, comprising:

a hub portion;

a tubular portion extending from the hub portion, the tubular portion comprising a first material and a second material, wherein the second material enables the tubular member to expand from a first position to a second position.

12 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the hub portion further comprises a valve member that seals the hub portion.

13 . The introducer sheath of claim 12 , wherein the valve member further comprises an elastomeric body having at least one slit formed therein to allow selective insertion and removal of a medical device while maintaining a fluid tight seal around the medical device.

14 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the hub portion further comprises a fluid port to facilitate the introduction or removal of fluid from vasculature.

15 . The introducer sheath of claim 14 , wherein the fluid port comprises an alignment mechanism that aligns a medical device introduced through the sheath.

16 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the tubular portion further comprises:

a plurality of first strips formed from the first material; and

a plurality of second strips formed from the second material, wherein each first strip is bonded to at least one second strip and wherein the plurality of first strips provide rigidity to prevent a lumen of the tubular portion from collapsing.

17 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , further comprising a strain relief formed at a transition between the hub portion and the tubular portion.

18 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the tubular member further comprises a geometric pattern formed on at least a portion of an inner wall of the tubular portion.

19 . The introducer sheath of claim 18 , wherein the geometric pattern comprises at least one of:

a groove that facilitates splitting of at least the tubular portion after the second material exceeds an expansion point;

a separation line to facilitate splitting of the tubular portion;

a plurality of grooves running parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion; or

a plurality of grooves that are not parallel to the longitudinal axis.

20 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the tubular portion further comprises a plurality of lumes formed in a wall of the tubular portion, the plurality of lumens providing additional elasticity to the tubular portion.

21 . The introducer sheath of claim 11 , wherein the tubular portion further comprises a tapered end form at a distal end of the tubular member.

22 . The introducer sheath of claim 21 , the tapered end further comprising an entry portion that facilitates entry of a medical device back through the tubular portion, wherein the tubular portion expands to accommodate the withdrawal of the medical device.

23 . A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:

introducing a sheath into a lumen of a patient;

inserting a first medical device into the lumen through the sheath, wherein a medical procedure is performed with the first medical device and wherein a size of the first medical device increases during the medical procedure; and

extracting the first medical device through the sheath, wherein at least a tubular member of the sheath expands to accommodate the increased size of the first medical device.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising inserting a second medical device through the sheath

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein inserting a second medical device through the sheath further comprises:

introducing a vessel closure device through the sheath; and

closing the lumen of the patient with the vessel closure device.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the sheath comprises a tubular portion extending from the hub portion, the tubular portion comprising at least one elastic portion elastically deformable to increase a cross sectional area of the tubular portion.