| abstract |
A valve system configured to access the cardiovascular system of a patient includes: (i) a valve body having a lumen therethrough; (ii) a selectively openable resilient first seal, (iii) a compressible second seal including an opening which communicates with the lumen when the second seal is in an open position; (iii) a locking nut movably coupled to the valve body, the locking nut configured to selectively increase and decrease compressive force on the second seal; and (iv) an introducer configured to selectively open the resilient first seal. The introducer has a proximal end and a distal end. The introducer is movably coupled to the locking nut and reciprocates between a first position and a second position within the locking nut. The resilient first seal is in the closed position when the introducer is in the first position and the resilient first seal is in the open position when the introducer is in the second position. The introducer protects elongate instruments such as catheters having stents thereon while the instruments are moved through the resilient seal while the seal is opened by the introducer. |