Patent ID: 8273059

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 longitudinal lines of weakness 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 portion between the distal and proximal end portions, a passageway extending therethrough, and a valve-receiving recess extending into the proximal end of the hub, the hub comprising two opposing sections divided by a pair of opposing gaps, the two opposing hub sections being joined together within portions of the gaps by frangible webs, with each hub section including a grippable wing extending laterally outwardly therefrom enabling initiating splitting of the sheath assembly; and the hemostasis valve seal having a distal end and a distal end portion, a proximal end and proximal end portion, and a passageway extending from the proximal end to a closed distal end, the valve seal adapted to seal the passageway through the assembly, and the valve seal having two initially separately formed opposed body portions having an interface therebetween and joined therealong by a sealed weak interfacial joint aligned with the gaps of the hub, wherein the gaps of the hub, the frangible webs of the hub and the interfacial joint of the valve seal are aligned to facilitate splitting by a practitioner upon manipulation of the wings of the hub for peeling the sheath apart and away from a catheter extending through the sheath assembly when desired.