Splitable catheter docking station system and method

A two-step method of placing a catheter within a vasculature of a patient including a first step of placing an introducer using an introducer placement system comprising a body, a docking station releasably coupled to a distal end of the body, a needle, an introducer guidewire, a dilator, and the introducer, and a second step of placing the catheter using a catheter placement system including a docking portion, a rail including a catheter frame slidably engaged thereto, the catheter releasably coupled to the catheter frame, and a locking hub disposed at a proximal end of the rail, the method comprising:

• accessing the vasculature using the needle;
• advancing the introducer guidewire through a lumen of the needle;
• advancing the dilator, including the introducer disposed thereon, over the needle to transfer the introducer from the body to the docking station;
• retracting the needle and the introducer guidewire from the dilator;
• retracting the dilator from the introducer;
• detaching the body of the introducer placement system from the docking station;
• coupling the docking portion of the catheter placement system with a proximal end of the docking station;
• advancing a catheter guidewire distally through a lumen of the catheter and through a lumen of the introducer until a distal portion is disposed distally of a distal tip of the introducer;
• advancing the catheter frame distally to advance the catheter through the lumen of the introducer;
• actuating an introducer retraction assembly to split the introducer along a longitudinal axis into a first half and a second half, wherein the first half of the introducer is wound around a first reel, and wherein the second half of the introducer is wound around a second reel;
• retracting the catheter guidewire distally from the catheter;
• removing the catheter placement system from the docking station;
• and
• removing the docking station from the catheter.