Patent ID: 8313506

Claim:
A reattachable introducer for use with an embolic coil deployment catheter to place an embolic coil into an aneurysm, said introducer comprising: a sheath which takes the form of an elongated, flexible tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer wall, said sheath having a side opening in the outer wall of said sheath adjacent to the proximal end of said sheath, said sheath having a longitudinal slit extending through the outer wall of said sheath and extending from said side opening toward the distal end of said sheath; and a cylindrical sleeve slideably disposed about said sheath and being movable between said side opening of said sheath toward the distal end of said sheath, said cylindrical sleeve being short enough to move beyond said side opening and at least some of said slit when moved toward said distal end, without extending beyond said distal end, said cylindrical sleeve being also capable when moved to said side opening of causing the sheath to pinch a deployment catheter which is extending through said side opening and also extending proximally from said side opening through said sheath, thereby preventing the sheath from sliding along the deployment catheter; wherein said sheath includes a sheath stop which takes the form of a cylindrical ring having a lumen extending therethrough, said sheath stop being fixedly disposed about the outer wall of said sheath at a position proximal to the distal end of said sheath.