Patent ID: 9517323
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M

Claim Text:
1. An introducer, comprising: a) a sheath comprising a sheath sidewall defining a sheath lumen, the sheath having a sheath length extending from a proximal sheath end to a distal sheath end; b) a housing comprising a housing sidewall extending along a housing length from a proximal housing portion having a proximal housing end to a distal housing portion having a distal housing end, the housing sidewall defining a housing through-bore extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing sidewall has a thickness spaced from the longitudinal axis, and wherein with the distal housing portion secured to the proximal sheath end, the housing through-bore provides for passage through the housing and into the sheath lumen; c) at least one stress confining notch through the entire thickness of the housing sidewall, the notch extending from the proximal housing end partway along the housing length to a distal notch end spaced from the distal housing end; d) a score line having a score line length that extends along the remaining length of the housing sidewall from the distal notch end to the distal housing end; e) a retainer comprising: f) wherein the housing is manipulatable to move the stress confining notch from a first position to a second, spaced apart position so that a separation force is applied to the distal notch end to thereby separate the housing and the sheath into two generally spaced apart halves on opposite sides of a first plane aligned with the longitudinal axis.