Introducer assembly with cap and method of using same

1. An introducer assembly for use in insertion of a medical device, such as a vasculature catheter, into a patient, the introducer assembly comprising:

an introducer sheath tube, a hub having a proximal hub opening and a distal hub opening and a passageway extending between the openings, the hub is secured to a proximal end of the sheath tube such that the hub passageway is aligned with a passageway of the sheath tube, a valve disposed at least partially within the hub for sealing the hub passageway while permitting insertion therethrough of a medical device, the valve sized and configured such that the valve is passable through the proximal hub opening; and a valve-retaining cap,

wherein the cap is so affixed to the hub at a proximal end thereof that the cap is movable between a closed position wherein the cap closes at least a portion of the proximal hub opening such that the valve is prevented from passing through the hub proximal opening, and an open position wherein the cap is clear of the proximal hub opening such that the valve is passable through the proximal hub opening thus permitting access to the hub and sheath passageways through the proximal hub opening while the cap remains secured to the hub and the hub remains secured to the sheath tube.

2. The introducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub proximal end and a distal end of the cap each define recesses together comprising a valve seat, the hub and cap compressing the valve between them, and into a retained position within the assembly when the cap is in the closed position.

3. The introducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a through passageway co-axial with the hub passageway when the cap is in the closed position, the through passageway having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the proximal hub opening.

4. The introducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a catch and the cap includes a latch cooperable with the catch to lock the cap in the closed position.

5. The introducer assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cap includes a lift tab having an inside surface facing the hub when the cap is in the closed position and the latch is defined along the inside surface of the lift tab, the lift tab facilitating manual grasping thereof to unlatch the cap to move the cap to the open position.

6. The introducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a cap capture section and the cap includes a cooperating capture section that secures the cap to the hub while permitting the cap to be moved between the closed position and the open position with respect to the hub.

7. The introducer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cap capture section is at least one tab projecting from the hub and each at least one tab defines one of pivot holes extending into sides thereof or pivot pins extending laterally from sides thereof, and the cooperating capture section is at least one tab projecting from the cap and each defines the other of pivot holes extending into sides thereof or pivot pins extending laterally from sides thereof such that the cooperating capture section is snap fitted to the cap capture section such that the pivot pins extend into the pivot holes and thereafter permit pivoting of the cap with respect to the hub between the open and closed positions.

8. The introducer assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cap capture section is one tab having pivot pins projecting laterally from both sides thereof, and the cooperating capture section of the cap is defined by two tabs that are positionable to respective sides of the one tab and include pivot holes into which are received the pivot pins of the one tab.

9. The introducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the hub includes a cap capture section and the cap includes a cooperating capture section that secures the cap to the hub while permitting the cap to be moved between the closed position and the open position with respect to the hub, and wherein the hub includes a catch on an opposite side from the cap capture section and the cap includes a latch cooperable with the catch to lock the cap in the closed position and to unlock the cap and permit movement to the open position.

10. The introducer assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cap includes a lift tab having an inside surface facing the hub when the cap is in the closed position and the latch is defined along the inside surface of the lift tab, the lift tab facilitating manual grasping thereof to unlatch the cap to move it to the open position.

11. The introducer assembly of claim 9 , wherein the hub proximal end and a distal end of the cap each define recesses respectively thereinto together comprising a valve seat, the hub and cap compressing the valve between them, and into a retained position within the assembly when the cap is in the closed position.

12. The introducer assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cap capture section is at least one tab projecting from the hub and each at least one tab defines one of pivot holes extending into sides thereof or pivot pins extending laterally from sides thereof, and the cooperating capture section is at least one tab projecting from the cap and each defines the other of pivot holes extending into sides thereof or pivot pins extending laterally from sides thereof such that the cooperating capture section is snap fitted to the cap capture section such that the pivot pins extend into the pivot holes and thereafter permit pivoting of the cap with respect to the hub between the open and closed positions.

13. The introducer assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cap capture section is one tab having pivot pins projecting laterally from both sides thereof, and the cooperating capture section of the cap comprises two tabs that are positionable to respective sides of the one tab and define pivot holes into which are received the pivot pins of the one tab.

14. A method of using an introducer assembly, comprising the steps of:

placing an introducer assembly in position accessing vasculature of a patient with a valve-retaining cap of the introducer assembly in a closed position, the introducer assembly including a sheath with a passageway extending therethrough between a distal end and a proximal end, a hub secured to the sheath proximal end, the hub defining a proximal hub opening and a distal hub opening and a hub passageway extending between the openings and aligned with the sheath passageway, a valve positioned in and sealing the hub passageway, the valve sized and configured such that the valve is passable through the proximal hub opening, wherein the valve-retention cap is affixed to the hub and in the closed position, the valve-retention cap closes at least a portion of the proximal hub opening such that the valve is prevented from passing through the proximal hub opening;

moving the valve-retention cap to an open position wherein the valve-retention cap is affixed to the hub but clear of the proximal hub opening and removing the valve from the proximal hub opening for access to the hub and sheath passageways to permit removal of a blockage therefrom;

removing the blockage; and

replacing the valve and moving the cap to the closed position.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of moving the valve-retention cap to the open position comprises pivoting the cap about a pivot joint with the hub.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the introducer assembly further includes a dilator extending through an open passageway through the valve-retention cap, through the valve, through the hub and sheath passageways and out the sheath distal end, and the method further includes removing the dilator prior to the step of moving the valve-retention cap to the open position.