Apparatus for removing a lead from a lumen of a subject including a flexible control tube shaped to define a control-tube lumen and a flexible grasping tube shaped to define a grasping-tube lumen. The grasping tube is disposed within the control-tube lumen and includes a torque-transfer non-distal portion and a helically-cut distal portion, that is (a) fixed at a distal end thereof to a distal end of the control tube, and (b) rotatable at least at a proximal end thereof with respect to the control tube. The helically-cut distal portion is configured to grasp the lead within the grasping-tube lumen upon the proximal end of the helically-cut distal portion being rotated with respect to the control tube.
