Abstract: The invention relates to a loading device provided with a tamping mechanism with which two or three functional operations needed in the sealing of punctures in blood vessels can be sequentially executed in one single manual operation. In a preferred embodiment of the tamping mechanism, a cam curve (15) transforms the single manual operation of a tamping button (8) being the one end of a plunger (14) into the retraction of a pusher (5), which has been used to insert an inner seal (1) into the vessel, and, then, the advancement of a tamping tube (10), which pushes an outer seal (2) into engagement with the outer vessel wall. In the end position of the tamping button (8), a recess (23) in the plunger (14) releases a thread (3), which tamps the inner and outer seals (1, 2) together around the intermediate vessel wall, from a retainer (16), thereby completing the third operation step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and guide wire assembly including a pressure sensor having a plurality of terminals, the sensor being mounted in the distal end region of a core wire. It also includes two to four electrodes for conductance measurement, also provided in the distal end region. Two electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.

Abstract: During use there is a risk that a male connector for a guide wire is bent. With the present male connector (1) more material with high modulus of elasticity can be provided inside the male connector (1), which makes the male connector (1) more bending resistant. The male connector (1) comprises a core wire (3), a plurality of conductive members (4) spaced apart longitudinally along said core wire (3), a plurality of conductors (5) disposed along the core wire (3), each of the conductors (5) being connected to a respective conductive member (4). The core wire (3) has such a shape that least one longitudinal cavity is provided, which longitudinal cavity remains substantially intact when the male connector (1) is bent, thereby protecting the conductors (5), which are disposed in said cavity, from being damaged.

Abstract: A tool (101) is provided for inserting and mating two plug members (2, 3) of a sealing device (1) for closing a wound in the wall of a vessel by placing the distal plug member (2) of the sealing device inside the vessel and the proximal plug member (3) on the outside of the vessel. The distal plug member is provided with an elongated retracting means (6) extending from the distal plug member. The tool comprises a gear mechanism (32) coupled to the retracting means for converting a movement of the tool in a proximal direction away from the wound (22), when the distal plug member is anchored in the vessel (20), to a pushing movement for moving the proximal plug member in a direction towards the distal plug member in response to a stretching force in the retracting means.

Abstract: Following a catheterisation of the artery, the flow of blood through the puncture wound has to be stopped. With the method according to the invention, the time for achieving haemostasis can be reduced by combining the normal clotting mechanism with a chitosan induced clogging mechanism. A compression device (1; 8; 16) for achieving haemostasis in a puncture wound comprises a compressor (2; 9; 17) and a pressure element (3; 10; 18) connected to said compressor (2; 9; 17) so that the bottom side of the pressure element (3; 10; 18) is in contact with the puncture wound, characterized in that the bottom side of the pressure element (3; 10; 18) is provided with chitosan, so that the chitosan and the external compression pressure are applied simultaneously on the puncture wound when the compressor (2; 9; 17) applies an external compression pressure on the puncture wound via the pressure element (3; 10; 18).

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The invention provides a system to sense the location of a distal portion of a member within a body. The system includes an introducer portion having a distal end adapted to be placed within a body and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the distal end and is adapted to provide a pulsation which can be sensed by an operator when the distal end is placed within a pulsating portion of the body.

Abstract: Core wire for a sensor guide wire assembly for intravascular measurements of physiological variables in a living body, the core wire (20, 30) is provided with different longitudinal sections each having a section diameter (&phgr;A-&phgr;G), and comprises an enlarged portion, where a sensor is adapted to be arranged, including a predetermined number of sections (C, D, E), one or many distal sections (F, G) positioned distally said enlarged portion and one or many proximal sections (A, B) positioned proximally said enlarged portion, wherein at least one of the sections of said enlarged portion has a larger diameter compared to the diameters of the distal and proximal sections. The ratio between the diameters (&phgr;F, &phgr;C) adjacent the enlarged portion is close to 1.

Abstract: An indicator device for visually indicating a pressure of blood inside a blood vessel includes: a body, the body comprising a duct extending in the body and having a sealed proximal end; a distal end portion adapted to be positioned inside the blood vessel and including a liquid inlet opening in fluid communication with the duct; and a window including an at least semi-transparent section configured to enable visual observation of blood entering into the duct via the inlet opening when the inlet opening is located inside the blood vessel.

Abstract: A closure device for sealing a percutaneous puncture in the wall of a blood vessel includes: an insertion tool having an actuator which is operable in a first mode in which the actuator is configured for deployment of an inner seal inside the vessel and operable in a second mode in which the actuator is configured for tamping a locking member on an outside of the vessel, where the actuator is arranged to be set into the second mode in response to a pulling force acting on a filament connecting the inner seal and the locking member.

Abstract: During use there is a risk that a male connector for a guide wire is bent. With the present male connector (1) more material with high modulus of elasticity can be provided inside the male connector (1), which makes the male connector (1) more bending resistant. The male connector (1) comprises a core wire (3), a plurality of conductive members (4) spaced apart longitudinally along said core wire (3), a plurality of conductors (5) disposed along the core wire (3), each of the conductors (5) being connected to a respective conductive member (4). The connector (1) has such a configuration that the conductors (5) are protected from damage at the location where the conductors (5) connect to the conductive members (4).

Abstract: A femoral compression device (1; 41; 51; 61) for compressing a femoral artery of a patient is provided. The femoral compression device (1; 41; 51; 61) comprises a pressure device (7; 21; 31; 42; 55; 62), a compression member (8; 43; 56; 65) for compressive bearing against a puncture site, a base portion (3; 44; 52) provided with two opposing extensions (4, 5; 45, 46; 53, 54), to the ends of which a belt (6), which is adapted to be arranged around the patient's body, can be fixed. According to the invention, the pressure device (7; 21; 31; 42; 55; 62) is characterized by non-uniform overall action constants, such that when a low compression pressure is applied, the pressure device (7; 21; 31; 42; 55; 62) exhibits a small action constant, and when a high compression pressure is applied, the pressure device (7; 21; 31; 42; 55; 62) exhibits a large action constant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical sealing device having a decreased risk that a fastening means, such as a suture or a multifilament, ruptures through the sealing device. An absorbable medical sealing device (3; 10; 15) according to the present invention is provided with one or more recesses (6, 7; 13; 18) for fastening means (5; 14; 17) and is characterized in that the sealing device (3; 10; 15) comprises a base portion (8; 11; 16), which is made of a first material having a lower modulus, and a reinforcement portion (9; 12; 19), which is made of second material having a higher modulus, the reinforcement portion (9; 12; 19) being provided to reinforce said recesses (6, 7; 13; 18).

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The position of a distal end of an introducer assembly in tissue is determined using a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected to the proximal end of the introducer assembly. The introducer assembly has a fluid path between its distal end and its proximal end. Measured blood pressure is outputted as an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer assembly in the tissue. Proper positioning of a seal is confirmed by placing the introducer assembly such that its distal end is in tissue outside a puncture in a blood vessel wall and observing a characteristic of blood at the proximal end of the introducer assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for replacing a first introducer, whose distal end is inside a vessel and whose proximal end is outside the skin of a patient, with a second introducer. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide rod into the first introducer, removing the first introducer, passing the second introducer over the guide rod, and removing the guide rod. The guide rod to be used according to the method has preferably a flexible distal portion with a blunt distal end and a stiff proximal portion with a tapered proximal end.

Abstract: The invention provides an introducer sheath (1, 21, 51), whose distal end is to be positioned inside a vessel (10, 32, 62), at a predetermined distance from the wall (9, 31, 61) of the vessel (10, 32, 62). The introducer sheath (1, 21, 51) comprises a distal portion (2, 22, 52) with a first diameter and a proximal portion (3, 23, 53) with a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the diameter of the puncture hole and the second diameter being larger than the diameter of the puncture hole.

Abstract: The invention provides a femoral compression device (11; 21) for compressing a femoral artery of a patient. The femoral compression device (11; 21) comprises a pressurizing means (12; 22), a compression plate (13; 23) for compressive bearing against a puncture site, a base portion (14; 24) provided with two opposing extensions (15, 16; 25, 26), to the ends of which a belt, which is adapted to be arranged around the patient's body, can be fixed. According to the invention, the pressurizing means is in the form of a spring (12; 22), such as a coil spring (12; 22), the first end of which is connected to the compression plate (13; 23) and the second end of which is operatively connected to a handle (19; 29), which can be operated to adjusting the compression of the spring (12; 22).

Abstract: A method to assist an operator of an interactive measurement system for determining flow related parameters based upon physiological signals obtained by a measurement unit that comprises a catheter adapted to be inserted into a vessel inside a body of a human or an animal, a wire adapted to be inserted into the catheter and provided with a temperature sensor at its distal end, and a computer means adapted to receive and store detected temperature signals received from said sensor and said wire.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The position of a distal end of an introducer assembly in tissue is determined using a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected to the proximal end of the introducer assembly. The introducer assembly has a fluid path between its distal end and its proximal end. Measured blood pressure is outputted as an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer assembly in the tissue. Proper positioning of a seal is confirmed by placing the introducer assembly such that its distal end is in tissue outside a puncture in a blood vessel wall and observing a characteristic of blood at the proximal end of the introducer assembly.

Abstract: A device for sealing a puncture in a blood vessel includes an inner seal configured to be placed inside a blood vessel and to seal a puncture in the blood vessel by contacting an inner surface wall of the blood vessel, and a retaining assembly having at least two loops which engage the inner seal. In certain embodiments, the inner seal seals the blood vessel essentially without deforming the blood vessel wall.

Abstract: A guiding tool for controllable and reversible folding or deformation of a wound closure element before insertion into a percutaneous incision or puncture in the wall of e.g. a blood vessel, said incision or puncture being smaller than said wound closure element in an unfolded or undeformed state. It comprises a tubular member having a lumen. The lumen has inner walls provided with wound closure element guiding surfaces, adapted to reversibly reduce the spatial extension of a wound closure element during its passage through the guiding tool. A system for the introduction and securing of a wound closure element into a percutaneous incision or puncture in the wall of a vessel comprises such a guiding tool.