Abstract: An apparatus for treating varicose veins includes a catheter (20) where the distal end is placed within a varicose vein and the proximal portion remains outside the body of the subject. A heating element (22) heats the vein. A cooling element (62) can be applied to an external surface of the skin above the vicinity of the heating element. A control unit (26) can drive the heating element to apply heat to the vein simultaneously. Alternatively, the control unit can apply a current to the heating element to resistively heat a resistive element. A method for treating a varicose vein includes inserting the elongated heating element into the vein, and driving the heating element to apply heat to the segment of vein simultaneously from the entire active heating portion.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for use in closing punctures in vessel walls. An apparatus may have various combinations of an anchoring device, a positioning device and a heating element for closing a puncture within a vessel wall. An anchoring device may be a balloon, an expansible cage, a wire operated T-anchor, and/or a floating anchor. A positioning device may be a balloon, a sponge, and/or an expansible cage. A heating element may be flexible or rigid and preferably provides heat to target tissue through conduction and convection. A heating element may be flat-ended or dome-shaped. The heating element and anchoring device may be positioned a fixed distance apart to sandwich tissue between the heating element and the anchoring device. The heating element may operate in multiple stages. An initial stage may non-permanently adhere the heating element to the tissue and the subsequent stage may close the puncture.

Abstract: A hemostasis device including a resistance heating element for accelerating hemostasis, a blood resistance sensor and a blood resistance indicator, operative to provide an indication of the resistance at the resistance sensor of blood undergoing hemostasis.

Abstract: A method for accelerating hemostasis of an artery having a puncture after arterial catheterization, the catheterization using a catheter introducer, the method including the steps of inserting into an artery a catheter introducer prior to arterial catheterization, following arterial catheterization, introducing a hemostasis device into the catheter introducer, such that a forward end of the hemostasis device lies exterior of the artery adjacent a puncture in a wall of the artery, accelerating hemostasis by heating blood in the vicinity of the puncture, thereby shortening the time required for hemostasis and following hemostasis, removing the catheter introducer and hemostasis device from the patient. A method for monitoring the progress of hemostasis of an artery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for hemostasis of an artery having a puncture after arterial catheterization, the catheterization using an introducer sheath, the method including the steps of inserting into an artery a catheter introducer having a forward end and a balloon adjacent the forward end prior to arterial catheterization, following arterial catheterization and removal of a catheter from the catheter introducer, retracting the catheter introducer such that the forward end thereof lies exterior of the artery adjacent a puncture in the wall of the artery, inflating the balloon, thereby causing inward collapse of the forward end of the catheter introducer, thereby defining an enhanced surface area surrounded by the balloon adjacent the puncture for hemostasis, and following hemostasis, deflating the balloon and removing the catheter introducer from the patient. An introducer sheath suitable for use in the method is also described and claimed.