Catheter sheath slitter and method of use

• US 20060167417A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Medical Products Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas Medical Products Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Armour, Andrew W., Worley, Seth, Heine, Christopher A., Kratz, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0675 Introducing-sheath slitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart

Abstract

A device and method for slitting a first elongated flexible catheter/sheath used with an elongated flexible component. The device includes a handle, an elongated groove and a cutter member. The cutter member has a sharp distally located cutting edge and a top surface from which a finger projects distally. The cutting edge is located under the finger and is arranged to be located within the annular space between the component and the first catheter/sheath when the first catheter/sheath is within the groove. The cutting edge serves to slice the first catheter/sheath longitudinally when the first catheter/sheath is pulled in a proximal direction. The finger protects the component from injury.

Claims

1. A device for slitting a first elongated flexible catheter used with an elongated flexible component, the first catheter having an interior surface, the component having an exterior surface and being arranged to be extended through the first catheter, whereupon an annular space between the inner surface of the first catheter and the outer surface of the component results, said device comprising a handle, a receiving surface and a cutter member, said receiving surface having a longitudinal axis and being arranged to receive a proximal end portion of the outer periphery of the first catheter thereon, said cutter member projecting upward from said receiving surface and having a sharp distally located cutting edge and a top surface from which a finger projects in a distal direction beyond said distally located cutting edge, said finger being arranged to be located within the annular space between the component and the first catheter when the first catheter is disposed on said receiving surface, said distally located cutting edge being arranged to slit the first catheter when the first catheter is moved with respect to said receiving surface in a proximal direction along said receiving surface and with said finger protecting the component from said cutting edge.

2. The slitting device of claim 1 wherein said receiving surface comprises a groove, said groove including a distally located portion and a proximally located portion, said distally located portion of said groove being shaped to accommodate a portion of the periphery of the outer surface of the first catheter therein, said proximally located portion of said groove being shaped to receive a portion of the periphery of the outer surface of the component therein as the first catheter is slit to enable the thumb of a user of said slitting device to hold the component in place.

3. The slitting device of claim 2 wherein said groove includes a portion having a pair of contiguous walls flaring in a proximal direction, said walls being arranged to separate the slit portions of the first catheter.

4. The slitting device of claim 3 wherein each of said contiguous walls includes an undercut recess therein for retaining a respective one of the slit portions of the first catheter.

5. The slitting device of claim 2 wherein said distally located portion of said groove is of an arcuate cross section and wherein said proximally located portion of said groove is of an arcuate cross section.

6. The slitting device of claim 5 wherein said distally located portion of said groove is of a semicircular cross-section having a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of the outer surface of the first catheter, and wherein said proximally located portion of said groove is of a semicircular cross-section having a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of the outer surface of the component.

7. The slitting device of claim 6 wherein said groove includes a portion having a pair of contiguous walls flaring in a proximal direction, said walls being arranged to separate the slit portions of the first catheter.

8. The slitting device of claim 3 wherein each of said contiguous walls includes an undercut recess therein for retaining a respective one of the slit portions of the first catheter.

9. The slitting device of claim 1 wherein the first catheter has a generally curved distal end portion and wherein said device additionally comprises a member located adjacent the distal end portion of said receiving surface for engaging the generally distal end portion of the first catheter to straighten it as the first catheter is moved with respect to said receiving surface in a proximal direction along said receiving surface.

10. The slitting device of claim 9 wherein said member comprises a C-shaped wall forming a portion of a circle and having a gap, with the center of said circle being coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said receiving surface and with said gap being located laterally of said longitudinal axis.

11. The slitting device of claim 1 wherein said slitting device is arranged to be used with a second catheter, the second catheter being arranged to be extended into the body of the being, with the first catheter extending through the second catheter, the second catheter comprising a hub and wherein said slitting device additionally comprises a retaining member located adjacent a distal end portion of said receiving surface, said retaining member being adapted to receive and hold the hub of the second catheter.

12. The slitting device of claim 2 wherein said slitting device is arranged to be used with a second catheter, the second catheter being arranged to be extended into the body of the being, with the first catheter extending through the second catheter, the second catheter comprising a hub and wherein said slitting device additionally comprises a retaining member located adjacent the distal end portion of said groove and adapted to receive and hold the hub of the second catheter.

13. The slitting device of claim 9 wherein said slitting device is arranged to be used with a second catheter, the second catheter being arranged to be extended into the body of the being, with the first catheter extending through the second catheter, the second catheter comprising a hub and wherein said member is a retaining member adapted to receive and hold the hub of the second catheter.

14. The slitting device of claim 11 wherein said retaining member comprising a generally C-shaped wall forming a portion of a circle, with the center of the circle being coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said receiving surface.

15. The slitting device of claim 12 wherein said retaining member comprising a generally C-shaped wall forming a portion of a circle, with the center of the circle being coaxial with said groove.

16. The slitting device of claim 13 wherein said retaining member comprising a generally C-shaped wall forming a portion of a circle, with the center of the circle being coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said receiving surface.

17. The slitting device of claim 1 wherein said distally located cutting edge is formed of metal or ceramic.

18. The slitting device of claim 2 wherein said distally located cutting edge is formed of metal or ceramic.

19. The slitting device of claim 8 wherein said distally located cutting edge is formed of metal or ceramic.

20. A method for slitting a first elongated flexible catheter used with an elongated flexible component, the first catheter having an interior surface, the component having an exterior surface, said method comprising:

A. extending said component through said first catheter, whereupon an annular space between the inner surface of the first catheter and the outer surface of the component results,

B. providing a slitting device comprising a handle, a receiving surface and a cutter member, said receiving surface having a longitudinal axis, said cutter member projecting upward from said receiving surface and having a sharp distally located cutting edge and a top surface from which a finger projects in a distal direction beyond said distally located cutting edge,

C. locating a proximal end portion of the outer periphery of the first catheter on said receiving surface, wherein said finger is located within said annular space between said component and said first catheter, and

D. moving the first catheter relative to said receiving surface in a proximal direction along said receiving surface, whereupon said distally located cutting edge slits the first catheter and said finger protects the component from said cutting edge.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said receiving surface comprises a groove, said groove including a distally located portion and a proximally located portion, said distally located portion of said groove being shaped to accommodate a portion of the periphery of the outer surface of the first catheter therein, said proximally located portion of said groove being of shaped to receive a portion of the periphery of the outer surface of the component therein, said method additionally comprising:

E. holding the component within said proximally located portion of said groove by the thumb of the user of the slitting device.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the first catheter includes a curved distal end portion and wherein said slitting device comprise a member located adjacent a distal end portion of said receiving surface, said method comprising:

E. causing said member to engage the generally distal end portion of the first catheter to straighten it as the first catheter is moved with respect to said receiving surface in a proximal direction along said receiving surface.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said slitting device additionally comprises a retaining member located adjacent a distal end portion of said receiving surface and wherein said method additionally comprises:

E. extending a second elongated flexible catheter into the body of the being, with the first catheter extending through the second catheter and with the retaining member receiving and holding the hub of the second catheter.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the component comprises a pacing lead.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the component comprises a pacing lead.