Device for slitting introducers for pacemaker electrodes

Abstract

Apparatus for implanting pacemaker electrodes whose proximal ends have enlarged plugs for attachment to pacemakers has a one-piece unslotted and unweakened tubular introducer of somewhat flexible material whose front end portion is inserted into the subclavian vein of the patient with assistance from a guide wire and a dilator. The dilator and the guide wire are thereupon extracted from the introducer so that the latter provides an unobstructed passage for implantation of a pacemaker electrode. The exposed section of the implanted electrode between the rear end of the introducer and the plug is then engaged by the trough-shaped elastically deformable portion of a severing device whose knife extends radially of the exposed section of the electrode and severs the introducer longitudinally while the latter is being pulled in a direction to extract its front end portion from the vein. The rear end of the introducer is formed with wing-shaped handgrip portions which facilitate the pulling of introducer in a direction toward the cutting edge of the knife and the exertion of a simultaneous lateral pull upon the rear end of the introducer so that the latter is automatically separated from the exposed section of the electrode simultaneously with longitudinal slitting by the cutting edge.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.