Vascular Hole Closure Device

Abstract

A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and having a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture and having a first opening. A first retainer is positionable external of the vessel. A flexible connecting member operatively connects the covering member and the first retainer, wherein the first opening of the covering member is configured to restrict movement of the connecting member.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from provisional application No. 61 / 241,555, filed Sep. 11, 2009 and is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12 / 358,411, filed Jan. 23, 2009 which claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 066,072, filed Feb. 15, 2008. The entire contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]This application relates to a vascular device and more particularly to a device for closing openings in vessel walls.[0004]2. Background of Related Art[0005]During certain types of vascular surgery, catheters are inserted through an incision in the skin and underlying tissue to access the femoral artery in the patient's leg. The catheter is then inserted through the access opening made in the wall of the femoral artery and guided through the artery to the desired site to perform surgical procedures such as angioplasty or plaque removal. After the surgical procedure is completed an...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]inserting a covering member inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture, the covering member having a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture and having a connecting member extending therefrom;

Problems solved by technology

This is quite difficult not only because of the high blood flow from the artery, but also because there are many layers of tissue that must be penetrated to reach the femoral artery.

This inefficiency increases the surgical procedure time as well as the overall cost of the procedure since the hospital staff must physically maintain pressure and the patient's discharge is delayed because of the inability to ambulate.

The patient, however, must still be monitored to ensure the blood is coagulating, requiring additional time of the hospital staff and increasing the cost of the procedure.

One difficulty with the procedure involves the number of steps required by the surgeon to deploy the needles, capture the suture, withdraw the suture, and tie the knot and secure the suture.

Moreover, the surgeon cannot easily visualize the suture because of the depth of the femoral artery (relative to the skin) and essentially ties the suture knot blindly or blindly slips a pre-tied knot into position.

Yet another disadvantage of this suturing instrument is that the vessel opening is widened for insertion of the instrument, thus creating a bigger opening to close in the case of failure to deliver the closure system.

It is also difficult to pass the needle through calcified vessels.

However, the closure device is still subject to movement which can cause leakage through the puncture.

However, since coagulation typically takes up to twenty minutes and blood can leak in between the plug and tissue tract, manual pressure must be applied to the puncture for a period of time, until the collagen plug expands within the tract.

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