Inserter for guiding a device through a hemostasis valve and method thereof

Abstract

An inserter for guiding a device through a hemostasis valve. The inserter comprises an elongate tubular body, a concave landing zone, and an axially extending slit. The elongate body tubular body of the inserter partially defines a central lumen. A method a of passing a device through a valve comprises the steps of providing an inserter having a tubular body with a split sidewall, advancing the tubular body through a valve, advancing a device through the tubular body and beyond the valve and retracting the tubular body so that the device escapes laterally from the tubular body through the split sidewall, leaving the device in place across the valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inserter for guiding a device through a valve, the inserter comprising:
 an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall at least partially defining a central lumen;   a laterally facing concave landing zone on the proximal end, the concave landing zone having a radius of curvature that increases in a proximal direction; and   an axially extending slit in the sidewall, the axially extending slit extending from the distal end to the concave landing zone.   
     
     
         2 . An inserter as in  claim 1 , further comprising a tapered distal tip. 
     
     
         3 . An inserter as in  claim 1 , further comprising a pull tab. 
     
     
         4 . An inserter as in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the concave landing zone comprises a different color than an outside surface of the elongate tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . A method of passing a device through a valve, the method comprising:
 providing an inserter having a tubular body with a split sidewall;   advancing the tubular body through a valve;   advancing a device through the tubular body and beyond the valve; and   proximally retracting the tubular body so that the device escapes laterally from the tubular body through the split sidewall, leaving the device in place across the valve.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein advancing the tubular body through the valve comprises advancing a tapered distal tip on the tubular body through the valve. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein advancing the tubular body through the valve is accomplished with the device pre loaded inside the tubular body. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein a distal nose segment of the tubular body expands in diameter in response to advancing the device therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the device is a thrombus engagement tool. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the device is a secondary catheter. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the device is an aspiration catheter.