Patent ID: 8007469

Claim:
A catheter system for positioning an instrument within a body, the catheter system comprising: a hub defining a lumen therethrough for passage of the instrument toward the body; an elongate tubular member defining a lumen therethrough, the lumen of the elongate tubular member being in communication with the lumen of the hub for further passage of the instrument toward the body; a slitter member that is coupled to the hub, the slitter member disposed to slit the elongate tubular member as the elongate tubular member moves relative to the hub; and a moveable member removably coupled to the hub and coupled to the elongate tubular member, wherein the moveable member is movable to advance the elongate tubular member toward the slitter member as the moveable member is moved relative to the hub such that the slitter member slits the elongate tubular member, and further wherein at least the movable member maintains the elongate tubular member in a fixed position relative to the hub prior to moving the movable member relative to the hub to advance the elongate tubular member.