Abstract: An instrument, a closure, and method of use for sealing an opening, e.g., a percutaneous incision or puncture, in a living being. The instrument includes a tubular carrier storing the closure. The carrier has a distally located free end to be extended through the opening. The closure comprises an anchoring portion, a sealing portion and a thin filament connected therebetween. The instrument is operated to eject the anchoring portion of the closure through the incision or puncture and to then draw that portion against the free end of the carrier. The instrument is then withdrawn to pull the anchoring portion of the closure against the tissue contiguous with the incision or puncture. Further withdrawing of the instrument draws the sealing portion of the closure out of the carrier, whereupon it moves with respect to the anchoring portion and into engagement with the tissue contiguous with the opening on the opposite side of the anchoring portion to seal it. Signals are produced to indicate proper operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying a stone or other hard body located within the body of a living being at a location where the stone is within a liquid. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a rotatable working head at its distal end. The working head comprises at least two radially extending blade-like members, each having plural force concentrating impacting surfaces and plural grooves. The working head is rotated at a high speed while it is in engagement with the stone. The rotation of the working head produces a flow of the liquid past the working head, with some portion of the liquid flowing through the plural grooves. The impacting surfaces impact the stone to break it into particles which are carried by the flow into repeated engagement with the impacting surfaces for further pulverization. The liquid flowing through the grooves reduces the boundary layer effect which tends to sweep smaller particles away from the impacting surfaces.

Abstract: A catheter and a method of use for pumping of blood through a living being's vascular system. The catheter has an expandable distal end portion and is introduced into the aorta so that that portion is at a predetermined position spaced from the aortic valve. The catheter comprises an expandable pump and a flexible, skirt-like barrier, both located at the distal end portion. The distal end portion also has an inlet and an outlet. When the catheter is located at the predetermined position its inlet is in fluid communication with the aorta distally of the pump while its outlet is in fluid communication with the aorta proximally of the pump, and the barrier engages the inner periphery of the aorta. Operating the pump causes blood to flow through the aorta, with the barrier ensuring that substantially all of the blood flows into the inlet to the pump means and out the outlet from the pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of the catheter as the pump is operated.

Abstract: A device and method for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being, e.g., a puncture or incision in an artery, in the gall bladder, in the liver, in the heart, etc. The device comprises plug means having a holding portion which is adapted to engage portions of the tissue adjacent the puncture or incision to hold the plug means in place and a sealing portion formed of a foam material and extending through the puncture or incision to engage the tissue contiguous therewith to seal the puncture or incision from the flow of body fluid therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, the closure or plug means is formed of a biodegradable material.

Abstract: A device for sealing an opening or puncture in the wall of a blood vessel, duct or other lumen of a living being. The device includes an elongated tubular body having an outlet at the distal end thereof and which is arranged to be inserted, such as percutaneously, through the puncture in the blood vessel so that the outlet is located within the vessel's interior. An expandible closure is disposed within the tubular body and is formed so as to be held in a compact configuration therein. The tubular body also includes ejecting means for forcing the closure out of the outlet into the interior of the blood vessel, whereupon the closure automatically expands to form an enlarged engagement surface. A retraction filament is secured to the closure for pulling it to the puncture after the tubular body has been withdrawn from the puncture so that the engagement surface of the closure means hemostatically engages the inner surface of the blood vessel contiguous with the puncture.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating or otherwise destroying a stone, such as a gallstone, within the body of a living being. The apparatus comprises a small diameter catheter having a longitudinal axis and a working head located at the distal end thereof. The catheter is capable of being located at any position within the body so that the working head is adjacent the stone. The working head is arranged to be rotated at a high speed about the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The working head comprises at least one bladed member having an impacting surface thereon. The bladed member is arranged to move from a retracted position wherein its impacting surface is located adjacent the periphery of the catheter to an extended position wherein the impacting surface extend substantially beyond the periphery of the catheter when the working head is rotated. The impacting surface is arranged so that when it rotates in the extended position, it impacts the stone to disintegrate or otherwise destroy the stone.