Florida Interns Group

Sheath dilators are sterile medical devices used to enlarge or dilate an access tract into a blood vessel or body cavity so that a larger medical sheath or catheter can be inserted safely and with minimal tissue trauma. They are commonly used in interventional radiology, cardiology, vascular surgery, and other minimally invasive procedures.

Purpose of a Sheath Dilator

A sheath dilator helps to:

• Gently widen the puncture site.

• Facilitate the insertion of an introducer sheath.

• Reduce tissue resistance during catheter placement.