an improved splittable medical device introducer designed to introduce a medical device such as a lead or catheter , into a patient &# 39 ; s vasculature without loss of blood or introduction of air is described . the introducer assembly is designed with a notch provided at the proximal end of the introducer housing . the notch , which may comprise a multitude of cross - sectional geometries , is designed to reduce the force required to separate the housing and the introducer sheath , thereby minimizing the possibility of unintentional dislodgement during separation . the notch also increases the repeatability and consistency of the amount of force required to separate the introducer housing and sheath .