Introducer assembly and method for forming an introducer assembly

1. An introducer assembly, which comprises:

a) a sheath comprising a first lubricious polymeric material extending from a sheath proximal portion to a sheath distal portion with an intermediate portion therebetween, the sheath having an axial passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the sheath proximal portion having an outer surface; and

b) a handle assembly of a second lubricious polymeric material and comprising a second passage having an inner surface,

c) wherein at least one of the sheath outer surface and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is characterized as having been subjected to a first mechanical surface treatment to thereby form a handle interface,

d) wherein the first polymeric material at the sheath proximal portion is directly bonded to the second polymeric material of the handle assembly in an airtight seal between the respective outer and inner surfaces at the handle interface, and

e) wherein at least one of the first and second lubricious polymeric materials is PTFE.

2. The introducer assembly of claim 1 further comprising a dilator disposed through the passage.

3. The introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical surface treatment is characterized as having been an etching of at least one of the sheath outer surface and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly.

4. The introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle interface includes one or more flow holes through a thickness of a sheath sidewall forming the sheath proximal portion, the second lubricious polymeric material of the handle assembly coupled to the sheath proximal portion occupying the flow holes.

5. The introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein if the other of the first polymeric tube and the second polymeric material is not PTFE, then it is selected from the group consisting of FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene), nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixtures thereof.

6. The introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the first polymeric tube and the second polymeric material are of either a same or a different polymeric material.

7. An introducer assembly, which:

a) a first lubricious polymeric tube comprising a sheath extending from a sheath proximal portion to a sheath distal portion with an intermediate portion there between, the sheath proximal portion having an outer surface of a substantially constant outer diameter and with a first passage extending there through from a proximal end to a distal end thereof;

b) a handle assembly of a second lubricious polymeric material, the handle assembly comprising a second passage having an inner surface of a substantially constant inner diameter;

c) a mechanical surface treatment provided on at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly, thereby forming an interface at the mechanical surface treatment; and

d) wherein the second polymeric material of the handle assembly is bonded to the first polymeric tube comprising the sheath, thereby forming an airtight seal between the substantially constant inner diameter at the inner surface of the handle assembly and the substantially constant outer diameter of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion at the mechanical surface treatment forming the interface with the first and second passages being in aligned communication with each other,

e) wherein at least one of the first and second lubricious polymeric materials is PTFE.

8. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is characterized as having been mechanically etched as the mechanical surface treatment.

9. The introducer assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is characterized as having been blasted with sodium bicarbonate as the mechanical etch.

10. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the handle assembly is characterized as having been further subjected to a chemical etching treatment.

11. The introducer assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the handle assembly characterized as having been further subjected to the chemical etching treatment overlaps at least a portion of the first mechanical surface treatment forming the interface.

12. The introducer assembly of claim 10 wherein the chemical etching treatment is characterized as having been done with sodium naphthalene/ethylene glycol dimethyl ether solution.

13. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein the sheath included holes into which the second polymeric material of the handle connects.

14. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein the mechanical surface treatment is characterized as having been done with at least one of the group consisting of sand, glass, mica, pumice, and dry ice.

15. The introducer assembly of claim 10 wherein a contact angle at the at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is about 70° at the chemical treatment.

16. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein if the other of the first polymeric tube and the second polymeric material in not PTFE, then it is selected from the group consisting of FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene), nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixtures thereof.

17. The introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein the first polymeric tube and the second polymeric material are of either a same or a different polymeric material.

18. An introducer assembly, which:

a) a first lubricious polymeric tube comprising a sheath extending from a sheath proximal portion to a sheath distal portion with an intermediate portion there between, the sheath proximal portion having an outer surface with a first passage extending there through from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end thereof;

b) a handle assembly of a second lubricious polymeric material, the handle assembly comprising a second passage having an inner surface of a substantially constant inner diameter;

c) a mechanical surface treatment provided on at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly, thereby forming an interface at the mechanical surface treatment; and

d) wherein at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the handle assembly is characterized as having been further subjected to a chemical etching treatment,

e) wherein the second polymeric material of the handle assembly is bonded to the first polymeric tube comprising the sheath, thereby forming an airtight seal between the substantially constant inner diameter at the inner surface of the handle assembly and the substantially constant outer diameter of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion at the mechanical surface treatment forming the interface with the first and second passages being in aligned communication with each other,

f) wherein a contact angle at the at least one of the outer surface of the sheath proximal portion and the inner surface of the second passage in the handle assembly is about 70° at the chemical treatment, and

g) wherein at least one of the first and second lubricious polymeric materials is PTFE.