Expandable balloon sheaths

A medical device comprising:

• a catheter configured to navigate vasculature of a patient after insertion into an introducer sheath inserted in the patient, the catheter comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion;
• an expandable balloon that is attached to the distal portion of the catheter;
• and
• a tubular sheath comprising a gripping portion, wherein:
• the tubular sheath configured to enclose the expandable balloon, wherein the tubular sheath comprises at least one wire embedded longitudinally along a length of the tubular sheath, the at least one wire being configured to split the wall of the tubular sheath from a distal end of the tubular sheath to a proximal end of the tubular sheath in response to a force greater than a threshold force upon the at least one wire, wherein the at least one wire extends from a proximal end of the tubular sheath to a distal end of the tubular sheath, and wherein the at least one wire has a higher tensile strength than the tubular sheath.

A method of inserting expandable balloons, the method comprising:

• locating a distal portion of a catheter of a medical device immediately proximal to an introducer sheath inserted in a patient, the medical device comprising:
• an expandable balloon that is attached to the distal portion of the catheter, and
• a tubular sheath configured to enclose the expandable balloon, wherein the tubular sheath comprises at least one wire embedded longitudinally along a length of the tubular sheath, the at least one wire being configured to split the wall of the tubular sheath from a distal end of the tubular sheath to a proximal end of the tubular sheath in response to a force greater than a threshold force upon the at least one wire, wherein the at least one wire extends from a proximal end of the tubular sheath to a distal end of the tubular sheath,
• distally pushing the catheter into the introducer sheath such that the tubular sheath remains stationary relative to the introducer sheath while sliding proximally relative to the catheter as the catheter is inserted distally at least until the expandable balloon is fully inserted into the introducer sheath without substantial contact between the tubular sheath and the expandable balloon;
• and
• splitting the tubular sheath using the at least one wire to remove the tubular sheath from the catheter in response to fully inserting the expandable balloon into the introducer sheath.

A method of inserting expandable balloons, the method comprising:

• locating a distal portion of a catheter of a medical device immediately proximal to an introducer sheath inserted in a patient, the medical device comprising:
• an expandable balloon that is attached to the distal portion of the catheter, and
• a tubular sheath configured to enclose the expandable balloon, wherein the tubular sheath comprises at least one wire embedded longitudinally along a length of the tubular sheath, the at least one wire being configured to split the wall of the tubular sheath from a distal end of the tubular sheath to a proximal end of the tubular sheath in response to a force greater than a threshold force upon the at least one wire, wherein the at least one wire extends from a proximal end of the tubular sheath to a distal end of the tubular sheath,
• distally pushing the catheter into the introducer sheath such that the tubular sheath remains stationary relative to the introducer sheath while sliding proximally relative to the catheter as the catheter is inserted distally at least until the expandable balloon is fully inserted into the introducer sheath without substantial contact between the tubular sheath and the expandable balloon;
• and
• splitting the tubular sheath using the at least one wire to remove the tubular sheath from the catheter in response to fully inserting the expandable balloon into the introducer sheath.