Patent ID: 7462167

Claim:
A device for slitting a first elongated flexible catheter used with an elongated flexible component, the first catheter having an interior surface, the elongated flexible 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 elongated flexible 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 having a bottom portion, a top portion spaced from said bottom portion and a sharp distally located cutting edge between said bottom portion and said top portion, said cutter member projecting upward from a first recessed portion of said receiving surface with said bottom portion of said cutter member being immediately adjacent said first recessed portion, said top portion of said cutter member having a finger projecting in a distal direction beyond said distally located cutting edge to form a gap between said finger and said first recessed portion of said receiving surface, said first recessed portion of said receiving surface being shaped to accommodate and hold a portion of the periphery of the first catheter in said gap, said finger overhanging said distally located cutting edge and being arranged to be located within the annular space between the elongated flexible component and the first catheter when the first catheter is disposed within said gap, said distally located cutting edge being arranged to slit the first catheter when the device is moved with respect to the first catheter in a distal direction and with said finger protecting the elongated flexible component from said cutting edge.