Patent ID: 7950155

Claim:
A tool for slitting an elongate sheath from about an elongate member disposed within a longitudinally extending lumen of the elongate sheath, the tool comprising: a slitting edge; a nose portion disposed beneath the slitting edge, the nose portion including a lower surface open downward for engaging a portion of the elongate member, the nose portion comprising a rear portion and a leading edge; a handle portion projecting upward from the nose portion and rearward of the slitting edge; a longitudinally extending tail portion projecting rearward of the slitting edge and rear portion of the nose portion, the tail portion extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis downwardly from a portion of the handle and approximately aligned with the sheath lumen when the lower surface of the nose portion engages the elongate member and the leading edge of the nose portion is within the sheath lumen, the tail portion including a profile closely conforming with the sheath lumen after the sheath is slit by the slitting edge such that the tail portion mates within the slit sheath lumen and prevents the slit edges of the sheath from collapsing toward one another, wherein the tail portion comprises one or more exterior surfaces foaming the profile closely conforming with the sheath lumen to mate within the slit sheath lumen, wherein the one or more exterior surfaces comprise at least opposing first and second curved exterior side surfaces, and further wherein the tail portion comprises a width about equal to or greater than a pre-slit diameter of the sheath lumen such that at least a portion of both the first curved exterior side surface and the second curved exterior side surface contact the sheath and mate within the slit sheath lumen; and a passageway disposed between the nose portion and the first end of the tail portion, wherein the passageway extends upward at the rear portion of the nose portion into the handle portion above and away from the tail portion, the passageway allowing a segment of the elongate member to bend away from the tail portion when the lower surface of the nose portion engages the portion of the elongate member and allowing at least a portion of the elongate member to be held in the passageway against the handle by one or more fingers of a user, the segment being proximal to the portion engaged by the lower surface.