Injection method for locating vessel lumen

A method for locating a vessel lumen and placing a vascular aperture closure device inside the vessel lumen comprising the steps of:

• providing an introducer sheath having an opening therein;
• providing a syringe containing fluid communicating with an interior of the sheath;
• depressing a syringe plunger to eject the fluid through the opening in the sheath as it is inserted through the tissue towards the vessel wall, the degree of depression being relatively small as the sheath remains within the tissue and outside the vessel;
• detecting a change in the depression of the syringe plunger to indicate greater ejection of fluid to thereby indicate that the sheath is through a tissue tract and through a vessel wall aperture into the vessel lumen;
• and
• inserting a closure member through the sheath and inside the vessel to seal the aperture in the vessel wall.

In combination a device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall and a device for locating the vessel lumen to ensure placement of the aperture closure device therein, the combination comprising:

• an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against an internal opening of the aperture, the elongated member having a dimension at least substantially equal to a dimension of the internal opening of the aperture to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture;
• at least two curved legs positionable outside the vessel to help retain the elongated member in position;
• an introducer sheath having an opening for fluid injection therethrough and into the vessel lumen;
• and
• means for detecting a change in the fluid ejection through the introducer sheath and into the tissue to determine when the introducer sheath is positioned inside the vessel lumen to ensure subsequent placement of the elongated member inside the vessel.