Patent ID: 8584364

Claim:
A tool for slitting an elongate sheath from about an elongate member disposed within a lumen of the sheath, the tool comprising: a slitting edge directed forward to slit an elongate sheath; a handle portion carrying the slitting edge, wherein the handle portion comprises 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 a nose portion extending from a leading edge proximate the slitting edge to a rear portion thereof, wherein the nose portion comprises: a lower surface open downward to contact a portion of an elongate member when an elongate sheath is being slit, 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 to the groove defined in the at least one opposing outer surface of the handle portion 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 separation surfaces extending along at least a portion of the linear passageway and at least to a location rearward of the deviation of the non-linear passageway from the axis of the linear passageway to separate a portion of an elongate member received within the non-linear passageway proximate the linear passageway from the slit edges of an elongate sheath when an elongate sheath is being slit.