Sheath splitting apparatus

A method of removing a sheath from a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a sheathed medical device into a vessel, with an apparatus comprising:
• a body having a medical device pathway for receiving the medical device, the body defining a longitudinal axis and having opposing sides;
• and
• two arm members at a proximal end of the sheath splitting apparatus and at each opposing side of the body;
• splitting the sheath into at least two tails;
• guiding sheath material removed from the medical device to pass from an inside of each arm member to an outside of the body;
• pulling on the sheath material tails from the distal end of the apparatus, each arm member consequently deflecting radially inwardly, closer to alignment with the sheath profile;
• removing the sheath from the medical device so that the medical device expands radially outwardly to engage the vessel;
• and
• allowing blood flow through the medical device.

A sheath splitting apparatus, the sheath splitting apparatus comprising:

• a body having a medical device pathway for receiving a medical device, defining a longitudinal axis having opposing sides with a distal guide slot at each opposing side;
• and
• one or more arm members at a proximal end of the sheath splitting apparatus and at each opposing side of the body, each arm member having a proximal end and a distal end, and naturally extends to a position radially outward in relation to the medical device pathway, each arm member having a proximal guide slot at the proximal end of each arm, wherein the proximal guide slot and distal guide slot define a sheath pathway for guiding sheath material removed from the sheathed medical device, thereby causing tension on the sheath material to move the arm members;
• a band secured around the arm members to hold the arm members in a closed position relative to the medical device pathway.