An introducer sheath (10) comprises a tubular body (11) with a distal portion (12) and a proximal portion (13), the proximal portion (13) being configured to be inserted into the patient's body. Introducer sheath can be separated along its length in a longitudinal direction. The introducer sheath (10) further comprises at least a first handle (15) which is pivotable about a fulcrum (21). The first handle (15) has a first end portion (151) and a free second end portion (152) so as to form a lever, such that pivoting the handle (15) about the fulcrum (21) causes a contacting portion (23) of the handle to act on a respective counter portion (24) that is operatively connected to the distal portion (12) of the tubular body (11). This creates a breaking force that causes the distal portion (12) of the tubular body (11) to break.

A rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICC”) insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer needle, a coupler coupling the RICC and the introducer needle together, and a sheath-splitting means for splitting a sheath body of the introducer needle away from an access guidewire. The sheath-splitting means allows the access guidewire to escape from the sheath body and remain in a needle tract established with the introduce needle. The splitting of the sheath body by the sheath-splitting means can be initiated by withdrawing the sheath body by a pair of finger tabs extending from a sheath hub around the proximal portion of the sheath body, twisting the introducer needle or a needle hub around the proximal portion of the needle shaft, triggering one or more triggers disposed in the coupler housing, or pushing a catheter tip of the RICC into the sheath body.

Provided are drainage systems that may include a drainage manifold and may be suitable for draining fluid from a tissue site. The drainage manifold may include a plurality of elongate members having a moveable end that may be adapted to configure the drainage manifold to treat a uniquely shaped tissue site. The drainage manifold may be coupled to a drainage tube with a transitional connector to provide a drainage system capable of distributing reduced pressure to the tissue site to enhance the drainage of fluids.

An expandable medical sheath can include a sheath body having a lumen that extends between proximal and distal ends of the sheath. The sheath can have first and second members where the first member has a different elastic modulus than the second member such that one provides elasticity to the sheath and the other provides column strength. The first and second members can be coupled together in alternating sections to form the tubular sheath or the stiffer members can be embedded in the elastic member along all or a portion of the longitudinal length of the sheath. The sheath can automatically move to an expanded state to allow a larger diameter medical device to pass through the lumen, and once through the sheath can automatically return to its initial diameter.

Intravascular delivery system is designed for a safe and efficient access to secondary and tertiary vascular structures, such as the branches of the coronary sinus, to enhance the delivery and deployment of various catheters, such as, for example, pacemaker electrical leads. The over-the-wire system features a straight, or alternatively shaped, micro-catheter distal tip of an inner catheter that seamlessly cooperates with a peel-away reinforced outer catheter. The inner catheter and the peel-away reinforced outer catheter are advanced in their engaged mode of operation towards (or beyond) the target site. Subsequently, the inner and outer catheters are disengaged, and the inner catheter is removed from the outer catheter. A pacemaker lead may be advanced over the wire inside the outer catheter to the target site for deployment. Subsequently, the outer catheter is easily split and may be rapidly removed from the blood vessel.

Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”), introducers, and insertion devices including combinations and methods thereof are disclosed. For example, a RICC system can include an introducer and a RICC insertion assembly including a RICC assembly disposed in a RICC insertion device. The RICC assembly can include a RICC, an access guidewire, and a splittable casing over a catheter tube of the RICC and the access guidewire forming a longitudinal composite. The RICC insertion device can include a frame and a nose cover forming a split channel that splits away from a through channel of a nose of the frame. The RICC insertion device can be configured for advancing the RICC assembly by rolling the longitudinal composite across roller wheels disposed in the frame. The through channel can be configured for advancing the catheter tube therethrough while the split channel can be configured for both splitting and passing the splittable casing therethrough.

Disclosed herein are balloon protectors, balloon catheters including the balloon protectors, and methods thereof. The balloon protector (100) includes a balloon-covering section (106) and a tabbed section (110) proximal of the balloon-covering section. The balloon-covering section is configured to cover a drug-coated balloon of the balloon catheter. The balloon-covering section includes a tip piece (104) of the balloon protector coupled to a distal-end portion of a body piece of the balloon protector. The tabbed section includes a pair of tabs (122) configured to be continuously pulled away from each other to progressively split the balloon protector along the balloon-covering section until the balloon protector is completely peeled off the balloon. Beneficially, an outer diameter of the tip piece can provide a stop to prevent insertion of a balloon catheter into an introducer sheath while the balloon protector is covering a balloon of the balloon protector.

Sheath assembly for the insertion of a cord-shaped element, comprising an introducer sheath, and an auxiliary sheath for insertion into the introducer sheath together with the cord-shaped element. In some examples, the auxiliary sheath has a housing configured to detachably couple to the introducer sheath housing, and to detachably fasten the cord-shaped element with respect to the auxiliary sheath housing.

Embodiments of catheter placement systems described herein include a temporary splittable sheath anchor, disposed on an outer surface of a needle. The splittable anchor moves with respect to the needle when accessing the vessel, allowing for a temporary anchor to be created as soon as venous access is confirmed via flashback. The clinician can advance the anchor over the needle once vessel access has been confirmed by flashback. The needle can then be removed without further insertion into the vessel, mitigating accidental trauma. The guidewire can then be introduced through the anchor and advanced to a target location within the vasculature. The anchor can then be removed by splitting and withdrawing the anchor proximally. Embodiments further include a splittable advancement sheath including a guidewire and configured to be drawn thorough a housing and split to allow the guidewire to separate from the advancement sheath and advance into the vasculature.

An introducer assembly includes a distal sheath and a proximal sheath. A splitting element is located at a proximal end of the distal sheath and is arranged to split the distal sheath in a distal direction, so as to deploy first a branch element of a medical device and thereafter the distal end of the medical device. The proximal sheath can then be retracted to release the proximal end of the medical device. Deployment of the medical device from the branch element first enables accurate positioning of the branch element prior to deployment of the main body portion of the medical device.