Resheathing tool

1. A tool to facilitate the unsheathing of a vasoocclusive device from a reloadable slotted introducer sheath adapted to receive the vasoocclusive device, and to facilitate the resheathing of the vasoocclusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, the vasoocclusive device including an elongated flexible pusher member and an embolic coil connected to the elongated flexible pusher member, the tool comprising:

a flexible tubular body including a wall, an inner bore, a proximal end and a distal end, the inner bore being adapted to slide over and receive the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and the vasoocclusive device; and

an aperture formed in the wall of the flexible tubular body to aid in the unsheathing of the vasoocclusive device from the reloadable slotted introducer sheath for deployment of the vasoocclusive device in treatment of a patient, and to aid in resheathing of the vasoocclusive device into the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, wherein said aperture is formed approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible tubular body in one side of the flexible tubular body with a first, slanted edge that is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body extending from a proximal end of the aperture at the exterior surface of the flexible tubular member distally and inwardly to a distal end of the aperture at about half of the diameter of the flexible tubular member, and with a second, transverse edge that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body at the distal end of the aperture, extending from the exterior surface of the flexible tubular body to meet the slanted edge at the distal end of the aperture.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said slanted edge provides an oblique ramp for the reloadable slotted introducer sheath.

3. A tool to facilitate the unsheathing of a vasoocclusive device from a reloadable slotted introducer sheath adapted to receive the vasoocclusive device, and to facilitate the resheathing of the vasoocclusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, the vasoocclusive device including an elongated flexible pusher member and an embolic coil connected to the elongated flexible pusher member, the tool comprising:

a flexible tubular body including a wall, an inner bore, a proximal end and a distal end, the inner bore being adapted to slide over and receive the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and the vasoocclusive device; and

a slanted notch shaped aperture formed in the wall of the flexible tubular body to aid in the unsheathing of the vasoocclusive device from the reloadable slotted introducer sheath for deployment of the vasoocclusive device in treatment of a patient, and to aid in resheathing of the vasoocclusive device into the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, wherein said slanted notch shaped aperture is formed approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible tubular body in one side of the flexible tubular body with a first, slanted edge that is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body extending from a proximal end of the slanted notch shaped aperture at the exterior surface of the flexible tubular member distally and inwardly to a distal end of the slanted notch shaped aperture at about half of the diameter of the flexible tubular member, and with a second, transverse edge that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body at the distal end of the slanted notch shaped aperture, extending from the exterior surface of the flexible tubular body to meet the slanted edge at the distal end of the slanted notch shaped aperture.

4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein said slanted edge provides an oblique ramp for the reloadable slotted introducer sheath.

5. A method for facilitating the sheathing of a vasoocelusive device in a reloadable slotted introducer sheath having a longitudinal slot and an inner channel, the vasoocclusive device having a proximal end and a distal end and including an elongated flexible pusher member and an embolic coil connected to the elongated flexible pusher member, the method comprising:

providing a tool including a flexible tubular body having a wall with an aperture formed in the wall, an inner bore, a proximal end and a distal end, the inner bore of the tool being adapted to slide over and receive the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and the vasoocclusive device, wherein said aperture is formed approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible tubular body in one side of the flexible tubular body with a first, slanted edge that is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body extending from a proximal end of the aperture at the exterior surface of the flexible tubular member distally and inwardly to a distal end of the aperture at about half of the diameter of the flexible tubular member, and with a second, transverse edge that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body at the distal end of the aperture, extending from the exterior surface of the flexible tubular body to meet the slanted edge at the distal end of the aperture;

introducing a portion of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath through the aperture of the tool into the inner bore of the tool;

introducing a portion of the vasoocclusive device into the inner bore of the tool adjacent to the longitudinal slot of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath; and

progressively sliding the reloadable slotted introducer sheath through the aperture into the inner bore of the tool and sliding the vasoocclusive device through the inner bore of the tool to press the vasoocclusive device through the longitudinal slot of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath into the inner channel of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath to thereby sheathe the vasoocclusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath.

6. A method for facilitating the unsheathing of a vasoocelusive device from a reloadable slotted introducer sheath having a longitudinal slot and an inner channel, the vasoocclusive device having a proximal end and a distal end and including an elongated flexible pusher member and an embolic coil connected to the elongated flexible pusher member, at least a portion of the vasoocclusive device being disposed within the reloadable slotted introducer sheath, the method comprising:

providing a tool including a flexible tubular body having a wall, an inner bore, a proximal end and a distal end, and an aperture formed in the wall, the inner bore of the flexible tubular body being adapted to slide over and receive the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and the vasoocclusive device, wherein said aperture is formed approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible tubular body in one side of the flexible tubular body with a first, slanted edge that is slanted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body extending from a proximal end of the aperture at the exterior surface of the flexible tubular member distally and inwardly to a distal end of the aperture at about half of the diameter of the flexible tubular member, and with a second, transverse edge that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular body at the distal end of the aperture, extending from the exterior surface of the flexible tubular body to meet the slanted edge at the distal end of the aperture;

introducing the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and vasoocclusive device with at least a portion of the vasoocclusive device disposed in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath into the inner bore of the flexible tubular body of the tool;

advancing a proximal portion of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath and vasoocclusive device through the inner bore of the flexible tubular body of the tool; and

advancing the proximal portion of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath proximally out the aperture while simultaneously advancing the vasoocclusive device distally through the inner bore of the tool and through the inner channel of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising resheathing the vasoocelusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath by the steps of:

introducing a portion of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath through the aperture of the tool into the inner bore of the tool;

introducing a portion of the vasoocclusive device into the inner bore of the tool adjacent to the longitudinal slot of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath; and

progressively sliding the reloadable slotted introducer sheath through the aperture into the inner bore of the tool and sliding the vasoocclusive device through the inner bore of the tool to press the vasoocclusive device through the longitudinal slot of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath into the inner channel of the reloadable slotted introducer sheath to thereby sheathe the vasoocclusive device in the reloadable slotted introducer sheath.