Patent ID: 7744571

Claim:
A tearaway sheath assembly for insertion of a catheter into the vasculature of a patient, comprising: a sheath tube, a hub and a hemostasis valve seal disposed in the hub and secured therein; the sheath tube having a distal end, a proximal end portion and a passageway extending therebetween, the sheath tube having a pair of opposed frangible seams therealong; the hub having a distal end portion that is affixed to the sheath tube's proximal end portion, a proximal end and a proximal end portion, a transition section between the distal and proximal end portions, a passageway extending therethrough including a valve-receiving cavity extending from the proximal end to the transition section, the hub comprising two opposing sections divided by a pair of opposing gaps aligned with the frangible seams of the sheath, the two opposing hub sections being joined together within portions of the gaps by frangible webs, with each hub section including a grippable winged tab extending laterally outwardly therefrom enabling initiating splitting of the sheath assembly; and the hemostasis valve seal having a closed distal end and a distal end portion, a proximal end and proximal end portion, and a cavity extending from the proximal end to a closed distal end having a slit thereacross to permit insertion therethrough of a medical device, the valve seal having a pair of opposed frangible webs aligned with the gaps of the hub and the seams of the sheath tube, wherein the gaps of the hub and the frangible webs of the hub and of the valve seal are aligned with the frangible seams of the sheath tube to facilitate splitting by a practitioner upon manipulation of the winged tabs of the hub for peeling the sheath apart and away from a catheter extending through the sheath assembly when desired.