Abstract: An internal tissue puncture closure method and apparatus. The method and apparatus provide a folded sealing plug that provides more surface area than conventional plugs to more fully cover and seal an external situs of an internal tissue puncture. The folded sealing plug may have a weave pattern that tends to cause the sealing plug to corkscrew into the internal tissue puncture as it is compressed toward an anchor placed inside of the tissue puncture.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a carrier tube, a sealing tip, and a sealing tip connection member. The carrier tube includes a distal end. The sealing tip is releasably connected to the distal end of the carrier tube. The sealing tip connection member extends through the sealing tip and includes a proximal portion extending proximally from the sealing tip. Applying a tension force at the proximal portion of the sealing tip connection member removes the sealing tip connection member from the sealing tip, and removing the sealing tip connection member from the sealing tip radially expands a portion of the sealing tip.

Abstract: A tissue puncture closure device includes an anchor, a sealing pad, a compaction member, a suture, and a suture cutting member. The compaction member is configured to compress the sealing pad toward the anchor. The compaction member includes a sidewall and a first aperture defined in the sidewall. The suture cutting member is positioned in the compaction member and includes a suture cutting member sidewall and a second aperture defined in the suture cutting member sidewall. The suture is coupled to the sealing pad and anchor, and a portion of the suture extends through the first and second apertures. Relative movement between the compaction member and the suture cutting member severs the suture.

Abstract: A vascular closure assembly includes a suture placement device and a sealant delivery device. The suture placement device is operable to position at least one suture across the puncture to form a primary seal of the puncture. The sealant delivery device includes a sealant delivery tube having a first lumen sized to receive the at least one suture, and a second lumen configured to deliver a volume of sealant to the puncture after forming the primary seal to create a secondary seal of the puncture. The sealant delivery device is slidable along the at least one suture to the puncture.

Abstract: A catheter assembly having first and second shaft members that provide stearability for the catheter assembly. The first shaft member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first ring members that are interconnected with a longitudinally extended first spine member. The second shaft member is positioned within the first shaft member and is connected to a distal end portion of the first shaft member. The second shaft member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second ring members that are interconnected with a longitudinally extending second spine member. Alternatively, the second shaft member includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the longitudinally extending second spine member. The second shaft member is operable to move at least portions of the first ring members longitudinally relative to each other to bend the first shaft member.

Abstract: An internal tissue puncture closure method and apparatus. The method and apparatus provide a folded sealing plug that provides more surface area than conventional plugs to more fully cover and seal an external situs of an internal tissue puncture. The folded sealing plug may have a weave pattern that tends to cause the sealing plug to corkscrew into the internal tissue puncture as it is compressed toward an anchor placed inside of the tissue puncture.

Abstract: A tissue puncture closure device includes an anchor, a sealing plug, a compaction member, a suture, and a suture cutting member. The compaction member is configured to compress the sealing plug toward the anchor. The suture is coupled to the sealing plug and anchor, and a portion of the suture extends through at least a portion of the compaction member. The suture cutting member extends through an aperture in a sidewall of the compaction member and is operable to cut the suture at a location within the compaction member.

Abstract: The present invention describes apparatus and methods for tying a filament across subcutaneous punctures. According to some embodiments, the apparatus and methods provide pre-tied knots that are inserted into a bodily lumen. Needles flanking the subcutaneous puncture are inserted into the lumen and grab the pre-tied knots. The pre-tied knots are pulled through tiny holes flanking the subcutaneous puncture by the needles, leaving an internal length of the filament across the subcutaneous puncture. The filament is then externally tied, closing the subcutaneous puncture.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device includes an improved plug that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the hole in the vasculature. The plug may be shaped to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel due to pulsatile pressure from the blood. In one embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of projections that extend outward from the plug and contact surrounding tissue in the tissue puncture tract to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A vascular closure assembly includes a suture placement device and a sealant delivery device. The suture placement device is operable to position at least one suture across the puncture to form a primary seal of the puncture. The sealant delivery device includes a sealant delivery tube having a first lumen sized to receive the at least one suture, and a second lumen configured to deliver a volume of sealant to the puncture after forming the primary seal to create a secondary seal of the puncture. The sealant delivery device is slidable along the at least one suture to the puncture.

Abstract: A tissue puncture assembly includes an ultrasound probe, a tissue puncture device, and an adjustment device. The ultrasound probe includes a probe end arranged to contact a tissue surface, the ultrasound probe being operable to determine a depth of a body cavity positioned below the tissue surface. The tissue puncture device is configured to penetrate the tissue surface to gain access to the body cavity. The adjustment device is mounted to the ultrasound probe and operable to adjust an orientation of the tissue puncture device relative to the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A suture cutting device including a housing, a cutting member, a suture recess, and an actuator. The cutting member is positioned in the housing. The suture recess is formed in the housing and configured to releasably connect the housing to the suture. The actuator is accessible outside of the housing and operable to move the cutting member laterally relative to the suture within the housing from a first position out of contact with the suture to a second position cutting the suture.

Abstract: A tissue puncture closure device having an anchor, a suture, a sealing plug, a compaction assembly, a carrier tube, and an insertion sheath. The suture is connected to the anchor at a distal end of the suture. The sealing plug is slidingly mounted to the suture and positioned proximal of the anchor. The compaction assembly is operable to compact the sealing plug toward the anchor. The carrier tube has the sealing plug positioned therein during delivery to a vessel puncture. The insertion sheath is insertable through the vessel puncture and configured to receive the carrier tube and anchor. At least the carrier tube has a cross-sectional shape with a greater width dimension than a height dimension.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The methods and apparatus provide for a compaction mechanism that is expandable and tamps the sealing plug into place.

Abstract: A vessel location device includes a catheter, an expandable member, and an inflation member. The catheter includes a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and a blood flashback lumen, wherein the blood flashback lumen has a distal opening positioned at the distal end portion and a proximal opening at the proximal end portion. The expandable member is positioned at the distal end portion at a location distal of the distal opening of the blood flashback lumen. The inflation member is configured to deliver a flow of inflation fluid to the expandable member to selectively expand the expandable member within a vessel to temporarily seal a vessel puncture.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a catheter, a balloon, an introducer, and a guidewire lumen. The catheter includes an inflation lumen. The balloon is positioned at a distal end portion of the catheter. The introducer is positioned distal of the balloon. The guidewire lumen extends along at least a portion of the introducer and terminates at a rapid exchange port positioned distal of the balloon. The guidewire lumen is receptive of a guidewire to guide the catheter through a vessel puncture in a vessel to position the balloon within the vessel.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes an anchor, a suture carrying portion, and a plurality of needles. The anchor is positionable through a vessel puncture in a vessel wall and operable between expanded and contracted positions. The suture carrying portion is positioned distal of the anchor and configured to carry at least one suture. The plurality of needles are operable between an advanced position extending through the vessel wall adjacent to the vessel puncture to connect to the at least one suture, and a retracted position in which the plurality of needles position the at least one suture through the vessel wall. At least one of the plurality of needles extends through an aperture in the anchor when in the advanced position.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a carrier tube, a sealing tip, and a sealing tip connection member. The carrier tube includes a distal end. The sealing tip is releasably connected to the distal end of the carrier tube. The sealing tip connection member extends through the sealing tip and includes a proximal portion extending proximally from the sealing tip. Applying a tension force at the proximal portion of the sealing tip connection member removes the sealing tip connection member from the sealing tip, and removing the sealing tip connection member from the sealing tip radially expands a portion of the sealing tip.

Abstract: A vascular closure system includes a balloon location device, a bioadhesive delivery device, and a sealing tip. The balloon location device includes a balloon for temporarily sealing a vessel puncture internally and at least one lumen for delivering inflation fluid to the balloon. The bioadhesive delivery device includes at least one lumen for delivery of the balloon location device to the vessel puncture. One of the balloon location device and the bioadhesive delivery device includes a first lumen for delivery of a first volume of bioadhesive to the vessel puncture. The sealing tip is releasable within a channel formed in the first volume of bioadhesive upon withdrawal of the balloon. One of the balloon location device and the bioadhesive delivery device is configured for delivery of a second volume of bioadhesive to the vessel puncture after the sealing tip is released in the channel.

Abstract: A vascular closure system includes a carrier tube, an expandable anchor, a bioadhesive material, a sealing tip, and a filament. The expandable anchor is mounted to the carrier tube and configured to extend through a vessel puncture to temporarily seal the vessel puncture from within a vessel. The bioadhesive material is disposed outside of the vessel and configured to seal the vessel puncture. The sealing tip is mounted to the carrier tube distal of the expandable anchor. The filament is connected to and extends proximally from the sealing tip. Applying tension in the filament maintains connection of the sealing tip to the carrier tube, and releasing the tension in the filament permits release of the sealing tip within a channel formed in the bioadhesive material upon removal of the anchor through the bioadhesive material to seal the channel.