Device and method for holding and maintaining the position of a medical device such as a cardiac pacing lead or other intravascular instrument and for facilitating removal of a peelable or splittable introducer sheath

Abstract

A holding device and method of use with a peelable or otherwise splittable introducer sheath or catheter through which a cardiac pacing lead or other elongated flexible instrument extends into the body of a living being. The introducer is arranged to be grasped by a user to pull the introducer in the proximal direction so that can be withdrawn out of the being's body. The holding device comprises a first or “gripper” portion and a second or “splitter” portion. The gripper portion includes at least one gripping member, e.g., a pair of jaws or at least one recessed engagement surface, to grasp or frictionally engage a portion of the periphery of the elongated flexible member to enable the user to hold the pacing lead at a desired position within the being's body. The splitter portion of the holding device is arranged to cause the introducer to separate longitudinally, e.g., the second portion includes a sharp edge portion for engaging the introducer member to split it longitudinally when it is pulled proximally with respect to the holding device as the holding device is held in place with the gripper portion gripping the pacing lead. Once the introducer has separated, e.g., split longitudinally, it can be removed from the pacing lead, leaving the pacing lead in place at the desired position within the being's body.