Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a main body and an expandable portion that can be selectively expanded and contracted. The vascular closure device may be used to close the hole in a wall of a vessel after a medical procedure. For example, the vascular closure device may be used to close the hole in an artery after a medical procedure that required access to the artery. In one embodiment, the expandable portion may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the main body. This may be desirable in situations where the vessel puncture is oriented at an angle relative to the vessel. Orienting the expandable portion at an oblique angle relative to the main body may help the expandable portion to cover the hole in the wall of the vessel.

Abstract: An insertion sheath and related methods include a tube member and a shape memory feature. The tube member defines an insertion lumen. The shape memory feature is positioned at a distal end portion of the tube member. The shape memory feature provides a monofold shape in the tube member when in a first state, and a radially expanded shape in the tube member in a second state upon application of an expansion force. The shape memory feature returns the monofold shape after removal of the expansion force. The insertion sheath may function as an access to closure sheath that is suitable for use as a procedural insertion sheath when treating the patient and a closure insertion sheath when sealing closed the vascular 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 is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: A vascular closure system includes a body portion, an anchor, a suture carrying portion, and a plurality of needles. The body portion has a distal end surface. The anchor is positionable through a vessel puncture in a vessel wall of a vessel. The anchor defines a vessel contact surface, wherein withdrawal of the anchor captures a portion of the vessel wall between the vessel contact surface and the distal end surface. The suture carrying portion is positionable through the vessel puncture and carries at least one suture member. The plurality of needles extend through the portion of the vessel wall adjacent to the vessel puncture and are configured to connect to the at least one suture member. Withdrawal of the plurality of needles through the portion of the vessel wall positions the at least one suture member through the portion of the vessel wall.

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: 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 method of testing the performance of a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes wrapping an aortic band around an outer surface of a portion of an aorta, fastening a first end portion of the aortic band to a second end portion of the aortic band, implanting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in the aorta at an implantation site, and flowing a pressurized fluid through the aorta. The aortic band may be positioned near the sinotubular junction of the aorta. When installed around the aorta, the aortic band reinforces the portion of the aorta so as to be more resistant to radial expansion.

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: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.

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 delivery system is provided comprising a needle and suture delivery unit and a suture knot system. The delivery unit may comprise a tube, a leg, a tensioning device, a pusher, a needle, and an actuator, the tube being configured to house the needle. In an open position, the tensioning device exerts tension on the leg, and the pusher and suturing apparatus are in a delivery configuration for delivering the needle to the internal tissue wall. Further, actuation of the actuator moves the pusher towards an expulsion end of the tube such that the pusher engages the needle and expels the needle from the tube. The suture knot system comprises a shaft, an inner tubular member, and an inner rod. The inner tubular member is radially translatable with respect to the shaft. The inner rod is slidably coupled to and is axially translatable within the inner tubular member.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods for closing vascular holes and associated vascular closure devices are described herein. The methods, generally speaking, use hemostatic devices intended to stop bleeding by closing vascular access puncture sites following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The methods may include positioning a sealing plug in the vascular hole. In one embodiment, the sealing plug may extend through the vascular hole into the vessel. The sealing plug may expand and thereby create a lip inside the vessel that holds the sealing plug in place.

Abstract: A vessel puncture closure device includes a balloon catheter and a sealant delivery device. The balloon catheter has an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal end thereof. The sealant delivery catheter has a sealant lumen configured to delivery a volume of sealant to a vessel puncture. The sealant delivery catheter is configured to move axially relative to the balloon between a first position in which the sealant delivery catheter delivers a first volume of sealant to the vessel puncture, and a second position spaced proximal of the first position to deliver a second volume of sealant to the vessel puncture.

Abstract: A tissue puncture closure assembly including a wire assembly and a sealing pad delivery device, The wire assembly includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a temporary expandable anchor positioned at the distal end portion. The sealing pad delivery device includes a carrier tube, a sealing pad positioned in the carrier tube, and a lateral wire slot. The lateral wire slot is defined in an outer surface of the sealing pad delivery device and extends along at least a portion of a length of the sealing pad delivery device. The lateral wire slot is configured to permit mounting of the sealing pad delivery device to the wire assembly in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A tissue puncture locator device includes an anchor assembly and a sealing member. The anchor assembly includes an anchor portion, a tube portion, and a filling member. The anchor portion is positioned at a distal end of the tube portion and configured for placement through a vascular incision into a vessel. The anchor member has an unexpanded configuration that permits passage through the vascular incision and an expanded configuration that limits passage through the vascular incision. The filling member is retained in the tube portion and adapted for insertion from the tube portion into the anchor member to provide the expanded configuration, and adapted for retraction from the anchor member into the tube portion to provide the unexpanded configuration. The sealing member is configured for placement adjacent the vascular incision outside the vessel.

Abstract: A method of testing the performance of a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes wrapping an aortic band around an outer surface of a portion of an aorta, fastening a first end portion of the aortic band to a second end portion of the aortic band, implanting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in the aorta at an implantation site, and flowing a pressurized fluid through the aorta. The aortic band may be positioned near the sinotubular junction of the aorta. When installed around the aorta, the aortic band reinforces the portion of the aorta so as to be more resistant to radial expansion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. In one embodiment, the closure device includes a vessel locating member, an anchor and a sealing material. The closure device may be configured to deploy the anchor and the sealing material outside of a hole in a blood vessel to close the hole. The vessel locating member may be used to locate the blood vessel to ensure that the anchor and/or the sealing material are properly placed adjacent to the hole. The closure device may also include a tamper member configured to push or tamp the sealing material against the anchor. The closure device may also include a suture that is used to hold the sealing material and the anchor together adjacent to the hole in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly attached to the stent. The stent has a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end adapted to reside adjacent the aortic annulus of a patient. The proximal end of the stent is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A vascular closure system includes a body portion, an anchor, a suture carrying portion, and a plurality of needles. The body portion has a distal end surface. The anchor is positionable through a vessel puncture in a vessel wall of a vessel. The anchor defines a vessel contact surface, wherein withdrawal of the anchor captures a portion of the vessel wall between the vessel contact surface and the distal end surface. The suture carrying portion is positionable through the vessel puncture and carries at least one suture member. The plurality of needles extend through the portion of the vessel wall adjacent to the vessel puncture and are configured to connect to the at least one suture member. Withdrawal of the plurality of needles through the portion of the vessel wall positions the at least one suture member through the portion of the vessel wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods of closing internal tissue punctures. The apparatus and method provide for an introducer sheath having at least one side port enabling aspiration of an internal tissue puncture site and injection of a sealant.