Slittable or Removable Valves and Apparatus and Methods for Making and Using Them

Abstract

A system and/or apparatus for delivering a medical device into a body includes an elongate tubular member and a valve fitted within a proximal end thereof. The valve preferably includes a tubular body and a flap, wherein the tubular body is engaged within the proximal end of the tubular member and has an open end approximately aligned with a proximal termination of the proximal end of the tubular member. The flap of the valve preferably extends over a hole formed in an end wall of the tubular body opposite a side of the end wall that faces a passage of the tubular body, which passage extends between the open end and the end wall. The hole communicates with the passage and with the lumen of the tubular member, and the flap is movable away from the hole when the device is introduced through the passage and the hole.

1 . A system for delivering a medical device into a body lumen, comprising:
 an elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, the distal end being sized for introduction into the body lumen, and a lumen, the lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends and being sized to receive the medical device therein;   a valve being fitted within the proximal end of the tubular member, the valve facilitating a delivery of the medical device through the lumen of the tubular member; and   a slitter including a blade for slitting the valve and the proximal end of the tubular member, simultaneously, in order to facilitate removal of the tubular member from around the medical device after the medical device has been delivered through the lumen thereof   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve comprises a tubular body and an end wall;   the tubular body is engaged within the proximal end of the elongate tubular member and includes a passage and an open end, the passage extending proximally from the end wall to the open end, and the open end being approximately aligned with a proximal termination of the proximal end of the tubular member; and   the end wall includes a hole, the hole communicating with the passage of the tubular body and the lumen of the elongate tubular member.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular body of the valve includes a first end being folded over the termination of the proximal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the tubular body of the valve frictionally engages an outer surface of the proximal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular body of the valve includes a feature being formed on an external surface thereof to facilitate attachment of the fitted valve to an internal surface of the proximal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the feature comprises a groove to hold adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular body of the valve is engaged by an interference fit within the proximal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the hole of end wall of the valve is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the slitter further includes a finger positioned alongside the blade such that, when the blade slits the valve and the proximal end of the tubular member, the finger is received in the hole of the end wall of the valve.