Enhanced guide extension system for the efficient delivery of leads

An intravascular delivery system configured for efficient delivery of a therapeutic catheter to a target site in a blood vessel of interest, comprising:

• a splittable outer member configured by a flexible substantially cylindrically contoured wall forming an elongated outer delivery sheath, said outer delivery sheath defining a sheath lumen having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer member shaft extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said outer member shaft is configured with a tapered outer tip at said distal end of said sheath lumen and at least one tear seam extending longitudinally along said cylindrically contoured wall of said splittable outer member between said proximal and distal ends of said sheath lumen, wherein said splittable outer member assumes a closed configuration when said at least one tear seam is intact and a split configuration, when said at least one tear seam is opened;
• an inner member having an elongated body formed by an inner member wall, said inner member wall defining an internal channel extending along the longitudinal axis of said inner member, wherein said inner member is removably received in and extends internally along said sheath lumen of said splittable outer member in a controllable relationship with said outer delivery sheath, said inner member having a proximal end and a tapered distal tip displaceable along a guide wire beyond said distal end of said outer delivery sheath;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism disposed in an operative coupling with said inner member and said splittable outer member and controllably actuated to operate said intravascular delivery system intermittently in an engaged and disengaged mode of operation;
• wherein, in said engaged mode of operation, said inner member and splittable outer member of said intravascular delivery system are engaged for a controllable common displacement along the guide wire;
• wherein, in said disengaged mode of operation, said inner and outer members are disengaged for displacement of said inner member and said splittable outer member relative one another;
• wherein, in said disengaged mode of operation, said splittable outer member is split along said at least one tear seam thereof for removal from said blood vessel of interest,
• wherein said elongated body of said inner member has a reinforced shaft coupled, at a distal end thereof, to said tapered distal tip, and a tapered element attached to said reinforced shaft of said inner member in a co-axial relationship therewith a predetermined distance from said tapered distal tip, wherein said tapered element has a distal end having a distal end diameter, a proximal end having a proximal end diameter, and a landing zone having a landing zone diameter between said distal and proximal ends of said tapered element,
• wherein said distal and proximal end diameters of said tapered element are substantially equal to a diameter of said reinforced shaft of said inner member, and wherein said outer diameter of said landing zone exceeds said distal end and proximal end diameters and is substantially equal to an internal diameter of said tapered outer tip at said distal end of said sheath lumen of said splittable outer member shaft, and
• wherein, in said engaged mode of operation, said landing zone of said tapered element of said inner member cooperates with said tapered outer tip of said sheath lumen of said outer member shaft lumen of said splittable outer member shaft with a substantially seamless smooth transition therebetween.