Slitting tool

• US 20030181935A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gardeski, Kenneth C., Malewicz, Andrzej M., Schuelke, David A., Odegard, Jeremy J., Ellingson, Elizabeth A., Spear, Stanten C., Manahan, Richard P., Kirihara, Debbie L., Jannicke, Jeff J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0675 Introducing-sheath slitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/001 Cutting tubes longitudinally

Abstract

A slitting tool for severing a tubular body includes a body portion, extending along a first axis, joined to a nose portion extending along a second axis, the second axis extending at an angle between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first axis. The nose portion includes means for severing the tubular body while the body portion includes means for gripping by a hand of a user such that a wrist of the hand is in a neutral position when the means for severing is directed toward the tubular body

Claims

1. A slitting tool for severing a tubular body, comprising:

a body portion extending along a first axis and including means for gripping by a hand of a user;

a nose portion joined to the body portion, the nose portion extending along a second axis and including means for severing the tubular body;

wherein the second axis extends at an angle between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first axis; and

the means for gripping directs the means for severing toward the tubular body such that a wrist for the hand of the user is in a neutral position.

2. A slitting tool, comprising:

an inner gripping zone;

an outer gripping zone;

a body portion extending along a first axis and including an inner surface forming a first portion of the inner gripping zone and an outer surface forming the outer gripping zone;

a nose portion joined to the body portion, the nose portion extending along a second axis, and including an inner surface forming a second portion of the inner gripping zone, a bottom surface, a leading edge terminating the bottom surface, and a cutting edge recessed from the leading edge;

wherein the second axis extends at an angle between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first axis.

3. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the cutting edge is formed by a wedge and extends from the leading edge toward the inner surface of the nose portion.

4. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the outer gripping zone includes a first channel adapted to engage a lead body.

5. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the outer gripping zone includes a recessed area.

6. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the nose portion includes a channel starting in proximity to the leading edge and extending toward the body portion.

7. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the nose portion includes a channel starting in proximity to the leading edge and extends along a length of the outer surface of the body portion.

8. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the nose portion further includes a forward edge terminating the inner surface of the nose portion and extending toward the bottom surface to limit a height of the cutting edge, the cutting edge recessed from the forward edge.

9. The slitting tool of claim 2, further comprising a tail portion, the tail portion joined to the body portion and substantially aligned with the body portion.

10. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the inner gripping zone includes a textured surface.

11. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the inner gripping zone includes a polymer overlay

12. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the outer gripping zone includes a textured surface.

13. The slitting tool of claim 2, wherein the outer gripping zone includes a polymer overlay.

14. The slitting tool of claim 3, wherein, to form the cutting edge, the wedge is sharpened by a process selected from the group comprising grinding, chemical milling, and wire EDM.

15. The slitting tool of claim 3, wherein the wedge has an angle between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 50 degrees.

16. The slitting tool of claim 3, wherein the cutting edge extends at an angle from the first axis, the angle between approximately 5 degrees and 70 degrees.

17. The slitting tool of claim 3, wherein the body portion and the nose portion are formed as a unitary and continuous part.

18. The slitting tool of claim 17, wherein the part is comprised of a material including a ceramic.

19. The slitting tool of claim 17 wherein the part is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys, and steel alloys.

20. The slitting tool of claim 19, wherein the part is formed by a machining process.

21. The slitting tool of claim 19, wherein the part is formed by an injection molding process.

22. The slitting tool of claim 19, wherein all or a portion of the part is toughened by a surface or sub-surface modification technique selected from the group comprising ion implantation, nitriding, and carborizing.

23. The slitting tool of claim 19, wherein the cutting edge is sharpened by a secondary process selected from the group comprising grinding, chemical milling, and wire EDM.

24. The slitting tool of claim 2, further comprising,

a captured component including an extension, the leading edge, the cutting edge, and a portion of the bottom surface;

and

a shell including a cavity and the outer gripping zone;

wherein the cavity of the plastic shell surrounds the extension of the captured component.

25. The slitting tool of claim 24, wherein the shell further includes the inner gripping zone.

26. The slitting tool of claim 24, wherein the captured component further includes a channel formed in the portion of the bottom surface.

27. The slitting tool of claim 26 wherein the shell further includes a second portion of the bottom surface and a second channel substantially aligned with the channel of the captured component.

28. The slitting tool of claim 24 wherein the shell further includes a channel formed in the outer gripping zone.

29. The slitting tool of claim 24, wherein the shell further includes a recess formed in the outer gripping zone.

30. The slitting tool of claim 24, wherein the shell is comprised of a material including a hard plastic.

31. The slitting tool of claim 24, wherein the shell includes two pieces adapted to be joined together by means of a process selected from the group comprising press fit, snap fit, welding, and bonding.

32. A slitting tool, comprising:

an inner gripping zone;

an outer gripping zone including a recessed area;

a body portion extending along a first axis and including an inner surface forming a first portion of the inner gripping zone and an outer surface forming the outer gripping zone;

a nose portion joined to the body portion, extending along a second axis, and including a bottom surface, a leading edge, a cutting edge, a forward edge, and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a second portion of the inner gripping zone;

wherein,

the second axis extends at an angle between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first axis;

the bottom surface includes a channel starting in proximity to the leading edge and extending toward the body portion;

the leading edge terminates the bottom surface; and

the cutting edge, recessed from the leading edge and the forward edge, is formed by a wedge extending from the leading edge toward the inner surface of the nose portion.

33. The slitting tool of claim 32, wherein the body portion and the nose portion are formed as a unitary and continuous part, the part comprised of a material including a metal and formed by an injection molding process.

34. A delivery system, comprising

a sheath including a wall formed about a lumen, the wall having a maximum thickness;

an implantable medical device including an elongated body adapted to be inserted within the lumen of the sheath for delivery to an implant site, the elongated body including a first portion within the lumen of the sheath, a second portion extending proximally from the first portion to outside the lumen, and a third portion extending proximally from the second portion; and

a slitting tool including an inner gripping zone, an outer gripping zone, a body portion extending along a first axis and including an inner surface forming a first portion of the inner gripping zone and an outer surface forming the outer gripping zone; and

a nose portion joined to the body portion, extending along a second axis, and including a bottom surface, a leading edge terminating the bottom surface, an inner surface forming a second portion of the inner gripping zone, a forward edge terminating the inner surface of the nose portion, and a cutting edge recessed from the leading edge and the forward edge, the cutting edge formed by a wedge extending from the leading edge toward the inner surface of the nose portion;

wherein the second axis of the slitting tool extends at an angle between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first axis;

the leading edge of the slitting tool is adapted to fit adjacent to the first portion of the elongated body within the lumen of the sheath;

the bottom surface of the slitting tool is adapted to be substantially aligned and adjacent to the second portion of the elongated body;

the forward edge of the slitting tool is adapted to constrain a height of the cutting edge to be approximately equal to the maximum thickness of the wall of the sheath; and

the outer gripping zone of the slitting tool is adapted to be held adjacent to the third portion of the elongated body.

35. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the outer gripping zone of the slitting tool includes a first channel adapted to engage a lead body.

36. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the outer gripping zone further includes a recessed area.

37. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the bottom surface of the nose portion of the slitting tool includes a channel starting in proximity to the leading edge and extending toward the body portion.

38. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the slitting tool further includes a tail portion, the tail portion joined to the body portion and substantially aligned with the body portion.

39. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein, to form the cutting edge of the slitting tool, the wedge is sharpened by a process selected from the group comprising grinding, chemical milling, and wire EDM.

40. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the wedge of the slitting tool has an angle between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 50 degrees.

41. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the cutting edge of the slitting tool extends at an angle from the first axis, the angle between approximately 5 degrees and 70 degrees.

42. The delivery system of claim 34, wherein the body portion and the nose portion of the slitting tool are formed as a unitary and continuous part.

43. The delivery system of claim 42, wherein the slitting tool part is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys, and steel alloys.

44. The delivery system of claim 43, wherein the slitting tool part is formed by a machining process.

45. The delivery system of claim 43, wherein the slitting tool part is formed by an injection molding process.

46. The delivery system of claim 43, wherein the cutting edge of the slitting tool part is sharpened by a secondary process selected from the group consisting of grinding, chemical milling, and wire EDM

47. The slitting tool of claim 43, wherein all or a portion of the part is toughened by a surface or sub-surface modification technique selected from the group comprising ion implantation, nitriding, and carborizing.