Patent ID: 7699862

Claim:
A tool to facilitate the unsheathing of a vasoocclusive device from a reloadable slotted introducer sheath adapted to receive the vasoocclusive device, and to facilitate the resheathing of the vasoocclusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, the vasoocclusive device including an elongated flexible pusher member and an embolic coil connected to the elongated flexible pusher member, the tool comprising: a flexible tubular body including a wall, an inner bore, a proximal end and a distal end, the inner bore being adapted to slide over and receive the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and the vasoocclusive device; and an aperture formed in the wall of the flexible tubular body to aid in the unsheathing of the vasoocclusive device from the reloadable slotted introducer sheath for deployment of the vasoocclusive device in treatment of a patient, and to aid in resheathing of the vasoocclusive device into the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, wherein said aperture is formed approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible tubular body in one side of the flexible tubular body with a first, slanted edge that is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body extending from a proximal end of the aperture at the exterior surface of the flexible tubular member distally and inwardly to a distal end of the aperture at about half of the diameter of the flexible tubular member, and with a second, transverse edge that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body at the distal end of the aperture, extending from the exterior surface of the flexible tubular body to meet the slanted edge at the distal end of the aperture.