Patent ID: 7208003

Claim:
A method for placing an embolic coil within an aneurysm, said method comprising the steps of: providing a delivery catheter; a reattachable introducer including a sheath having a lumen, a side opening through the outer wall of said sheath and a longitudinal slit, and including a cylindrical sleeve slideably disposed about said sheath; a deployment catheter being slideably disposed through the side opening of said sheath and through the lumen of said sheath; and a vascular occlusive embolic coil being detachably attached to a distal section of said deployment catheter; inserting said delivery catheter into a vessel of the body; inserting said deployment catheter and said introducer into a lumen of said delivery catheter; sliding said cylindrical sleeve distally from a position adjacent to said side opening through the outer wall of said sheath and toward the distal end of said sheath; advancing said deployment catheter distally while causing said sheath to partially detach from said deployment catheter by extending through said longitudinal slit, thereby causing said embolic coil to become exposed; releasing said embolic coil within the aneurysm; removing said deployment catheter and said introducer; and removing said delivery catheter from the body.