A sheath introducer for use with a catheter, has a hub and a tube through which the catheter extends, and a lock assembly which has a rotational knob that actuates a plurality of prongs arranged in a radial pattern around a hole in the hub that receives the catheter, wherein the prongs synchronously rotate in one direction to grip the catheter or in the other direction to release the catheter.

A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway includes a substantially transparent housing having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a cavity extending therebetween. The connector provides a substantially visible fluid flow path extending through a substantial portion of the connector.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a delivery apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site via the human vasculature without the need for a separate introducer sheath. The delivery apparatus is particularly well-suited for advancing a prosthetic valve through the aorta (i.e., in a retrograde approach) for replacing a stenotic aortic valve.

An optical access apparatus for receiving an endoscope to permit visualization during passage through tissue includes an access member dimensioned for insertion through body tissue. The access member defines a longitudinal axis and has a longitudinal opening for receiving an endoscope. The access member has a closed penetrating end adapted to pass through tissue. The closed penetrating end is transparent to permit visualization of tissue with the endoscope. The optical access apparatus further includes a locking collet coaxially mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the access member and a manual member mounted adjacent the locking collet and operatively engageable therewith. The locking collet has internal surfaces defining an internal passage to permit passage of the surgical instrument. The manual member is adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis to reduce an internal dimension of the internal passage of the locking collet to cause the internal surfaces of the locking collet to securely engage the surgical instrument.

A valve hub assembly for use with a sheath includes a valve hub with a proximal end opposite a distal end, a first arm defining a lumen, and a second arm defining a lumen. A tightening port is arranged at the proximal end of the valve hub. The tightening port includes a hub cap engaged with the tightening port, a radially expandable seal positioned in a lumen of the hub cap, a pusher engaged with the radially expandable seal and at least partially disposed within the hub cap, and a lock nut arranged around the pusher and configured for pressing of the pusher against the radially expandable seal.

The invention relates to a valve used in medical procedures. More specifically the invention relates to an introducer sheath valve used in minimally invasive and conventional surgical procedures. The valve may accommodate a wide range of surgical implement diameters, shapes, and multiple implements without imposing the high frictional forces of known valves.

Deflectable catheters, hemostasis valves, and materials for the same are disclosed. The deflectable catheters and hemostasis valves can be made at least partially, if not entirely, from a fluoroelastomer and ePTFE combination. A deflectable region of the catheters can be articulated to form simple and/or complex curves.

A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between a first tube end and a second tube end to define a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the second tube end of the tube, and a valve housing surrounds the tube about the second tube end and extends from a first valve housing end to a second valve housing end. The valve housing includes a housing flange extending radially inwardly from the second valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the housing flange, and one of the valve housing and the tube is axially movable relative to the other to vary the distance between said plunger plate and said housing flange and adjust an inner diameter of the elastomeric seal.

The present disclosure relates to a hemostasis valve with a selectively coupled torque device. The hemostasis valve may include a first mating interface, and the torque device may comprise a second mating interface. The first interface may comprise a groove that retains the second interface, which may comprise a ridge. An axial force may couple and decouple the interfaces. The interfaces may be configured to allow the torque device to rotate relative to the hemostasis valve when in a coupled position.

An assembly includes a prosthetic heart valve and a delivery apparatus for implanting the prosthetic heart valve within the native aortic valve of a patient. The prosthetic heart valve has a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent and a flexible valvular structure mounted within the stent. The delivery apparatus has a handle, a first shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a second shaft extending co-axially through the first shaft and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portions of the first and second shafts extending distally from the handle, a valve cover coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft, and a nose piece coupled to the distal end portion of the second shaft.