Our goal is to create the first expandable radial access sheath.

While there are already expandable sheaths on the market, they are meant for femoral artery access. The radial access sheaths that do exist are not intended to expand. Some examples of current sheaths include the Terumo SoloPath sheath, Edwards eSheath, and the Boston Scientific iSleeve. Although both the Edwards and Boston Scientific sheaths are able to expand, they are only created for the femoral artery. On the other hand, the Terumo sheath is a radial access sheath that is capable of expanding one French (Fr), where 0.33 mm is equal to 1 French. Thus, we are creating the first sheath that will be able to expand up to 3 French sizes (4 - 7 Fr) within the radial artery for cardiovascular procedures. Along with this, we will be ensuring that our sheath does not drastically change in length during radial expansion as this change can result in a shift in positioning within the artery. Furthermore, we want to relieve compression along the catheter body as it is being pushed through the sheath to avoid the use of excessive force.