Bloodless splittable introducer

Claim 1

An apparatus for facilitating substantially bloodless insertion into and withdrawal from a patient's body of a longitudinal member having a proximal end portion and having a distal end portion which is adapted to extend into the patient's body, comprising: a longitudinally extending sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and defining a lumen extending therealong, the longitudinal member being positionable along the lumen, the sleeve having a line extending longitudinally therealong which is either split or is so weakened as to be splittable so that the sleeve can be separated along the line for removal from about the longitudinal member while the distal end portion of the longitudinal member remains extended into the patient; a sleeve holder to which the proximal end portion of the sleeve is attached, the sleeve holder being so weakened in corresponding relation to the line on the sleeve so that the sleeve can be separated along the line for removal from about the longitudinal member while the distal end portion of the longitudinal member remains extended into the patient; and a sealing structure held by the sleeve holder so as to be in sealing relationship to the lumen, the sealing structure including 1) a self sealing opening and 2) a substantially circular opening located proximally of the self sealing opening and being substantially coaxial therewith, the circular opening having a diameter which is equal to or less than an external diameter of the longitudinal member so as to form a sliding seal to prevent significant blood loss during insertion and withdrawal of the longitudinal member through the lumen.

Claim 2

An apparatus for facilitating substantially bloodless insertion into and withdrawal from a patient's body of a longitudinal member having a proximal end portion and having a distal end portion which is adapted to extend into the patient's body, comprising: a longitudinally extending sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and defining a lumen extending therealong, the longitudinal member being positionable along the lumen, the sleeve having a line extending longitudinally therealong which is either split or is so weakened as to be splittable so that the sleeve can be separated along the line for removal from about the longitudinal member while the distal end portion of the longitudinal member remains extended into the patient; a sleeve holder to which the proximal end portion of the sleeve is attached, the sleeve holder being so weakened in corresponding relation to the line on the sleeve so that the sleeve can be separated along the line for removal from about the longitudinal member while the distal end portion of the longitudinal member remains extended into the patient; and a sealing structure held by the sleeve holder so as to be in sealing relationship to the lumen, the sealing structure including 1) a self sealing opening and 2) a substantially circular opening located proximally of the self sealing opening and being substantially coaxial therewith, the circular opening having a diameter which is equal to or less than an external diameter of the longitudinal member so as to form a sliding seal to prevent significant blood loss during insertion and withdrawal of the longitudinal member through the lumen.