Patent ID: 8074360

Claim:
A tool for slitting an elongate sheath from about an elongate member disposed within a longitudinally extending lumen of the sheath, the tool comprising: a handle portion comprising opposing outer surfaces, wherein the handle portion is configured to be held by fingers of an operator in contact with the opposing outer surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing outer surfaces has a groove defined therein to receive at least a portion of an elongate member when an elongate sheath is being slit, and further wherein the groove is located such that the fingers of the operator holding the handle portion also hold the elongate member in the groove when the elongate sheath is being slit; a slitting edge directed forward for slitting an elongate sheath; and a nose portion disposed beneath the slitting edge and extending along a lower region of the handle portion, wherein the nose portion extends from a leading edge to a rear portion of the nose portion, and further wherein the nose portion comprises: a lower surface open downward for contact with a portion of an elongate member when an elongate sheath is being slit, wherein the lower surface extends from the leading edge of the nose portion to the rear portion of the nose portion, wherein the lower surface proximate the leading edge defines a linear passageway along an axis in which an elongate member is located when an elongate sheath is being slit, and further wherein the rear portion of the nose portion defines a non-linear passageway deviating from the axis and extending upward into the handle portion to the groove defined in the at least one opposing outer surface to allow a portion of an elongate member to bend upward and away from the axis when an elongate sheath is being slit; and one or more outwardly facing surfaces flanking the linear passageway extending along the axis and at least a portion of the non-linear passageway extending upward into the handle portion, the one or more outwardly facing surfaces comprising one or more sheath contact surfaces extending linearly along the axis opposite the lower surface and at least to a location rearward of the deviation of the non-linear passageway from the axis of the linear passageway, wherein the one or more sheath contact surfaces separate the portion of an elongate member received within the non-linear passageway proximate the linear passageway bending upward and away from the axis and the split edges of an elongate sheath when an elongate sheath is being slit.