Vascular sealing device with microwave antenna

#This invention relates to a vessel closure device, and more particularly to a device for effecting the closure of a vessel by delivering a fluent closure composition precursor and converting the composition in situ to a non-fluent closure composition.

#A wide variety of surgical procedures are performed by the introduction of a catheter into a vessel. After the surgical procedure is completed, closure of the vessel at the site where the catheter was introduced is needed. Vessel punctures formed in the process of performing a catheter based surgical procedure are commonly 1.5 mm to 7.0 mm in diameter and can be larger. Closure of these punctures is frequently complicated by anticoagulation medicine given to the patient which interferes with the body's natural clotting abilities.

#Closure of a vessel puncture has traditionally been performed by applying pressure to the vessel adjacent the puncture site. This procedure requires the continuous attention of at least one medical staff member to apply pressure to the vessel puncture site and can take as long as 30 minutes.

#FIG. 1A is a side view of a closure device according to the present invention.

#FIG. 1B is a cross section of the closure device of FIG. 1A.

#FIG. 2 is a cross section of a closure device with a first and second closure lumen coupled to first and second closure composition precursor sources.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a closure device 10 according to the present invention. The closure device 10 may be used to seal a puncture in a vessel such as a femoral artery.

#The closure device 10 includes an elongated body 12 with a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16 sized to be inserted into a lumen of a vessel. The surface of the elongated body 12 is preferably made of a non-stick material, such as Teflon, or coated with a biocompatible lubricant. Positioned within the elongated body 12 are one or more closure lumens which extend from adjacent the proximal end 14 of the device to the distal end 16 of the device for introducing a closure composition precursor adjacent the vessel puncture site. Illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a closure device 10 with a single closure lumen 18 with a precursor entrance port 20 and at least one precursor exit port 22 adjacent the distal end 16. The precursor entrance port 20 is preferably removably coupleable to a closure composition precursor source 24 for supplying the closure composition precursor to the closure device 10. The closure lumen 18 may optionally contain an anti-backflow valve 26 to prevent blood from flowing into the closure lumen 18 from the vessel.

#The closure composition precursor can be formed of one or more fluent materials that can be flowed from the closure composition precursor source 24 to adjacent the device distal end 16 through the closure lumen 18. The fluent closure composition precursor is transformed into a non-fluent closure composition in situ to effect closure of the puncture. In a preferred embodiment, energy is applied to the closure composition precursor to accelerate its transformation into the non-fluent closure composition. The transformation of the fluent precursor to a non-fluent closure composition may be the result of a phase change (i.e. solidification) of the precursor or a chemical modification of the precursor. For example, the precursor may be formed from multiple components which react with each other, optionally accelerated by a catalyst or energy. Alternatively, the precursor may be formed from a single component which reacts with itself, also optionally accelerated by a catalyst or energy.