# US 2017/0281151 A1 · Medical devices for delivering plugs to voids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281151 A1 - Document ID: US20170281151A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/476,675 - Filed: 2017-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Fred Lampropoulos; Jim Mottola; Richard P. Jenkins; Gregory R. McArthur; Kenneth Sykes; Mark Garcia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281151A1 ## CPC - A61M 5/3134: {characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula} - A61B 17/0057: {Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect (sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009)} - A61B 17/12159: {Solid plugs; being solid before insertion} - A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)} - A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive} - A61B 2017/00623: {Introducing or retrieving devices therefor} - A61B 2017/00654: {entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening} - A61B 2017/00898: {expandable upon contact with fluid} - A61B 2017/1205: {Introduction devices} - A61F 13/266: {Insertion devices, e.g. rods or plungers, separate from the tampon} - A61F 13/36: Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery (A61F13/38, A61M35/006 take precedence) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Medical devices for delivering a plug to a void within a patient. The medical device can include a fluid delivery device and a plug holder (e.g., a plug delivery device) coupled to a distal end of the fluid delivery device. The medical device may be configured such that the delivery of fluid from the fluid delivery device wets the plug, ejects the plug from the plug holder, and pushes the plug through a lumen of an elongate tube to a void within a patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical plug delivery system, comprising: a medical plug delivery device comprising a housing defining a cavity configured to receive a medical plug wherein the housing comprises a distal connector configured to connect to a distal medical appliance in communication with a patient; and wherein the cavity is structured to frictionally engage the medical plug within the cavity until: (i) a distally directed flow of fluid passes through the lumen with sufficient force to overcome the engagement; or (ii) a distally directed force from a stylet is applied to the medical plug. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a medical plug configured to fill a void in a patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a proximal connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises radially inwardly projecting detents configured to engage the medical plug in the cavity and to permit fluid flow past the medical plug. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises an annular reduced diameter portion configured to engage the medical plug and wherein the annular reduced diameter portion comprises at least one radially outwardly extending channel configured to permit fluid flow past the medical plug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a stylet configured to pass distally through the cavity, wherein the stylet is configured to displace the medical plug from the medical plug delivery device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a frustoconical shaped distal end configured to guide the displaced medical plug into the medical appliance in communication with the patient. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical plug delivery system of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the housing that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing defines a perimeter of a portion of the cavity, wherein the perimeter comprises: a plurality of inward-most points at a first radius from the longitudinal axis of the housing; and a plurality of outward-most points at a second radius from the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the second radius is longer than the first radius. ### Claim 9 A method of delivering a medical plug into a patient comprising: obtaining a medical plug delivery system comprising a medical plug delivery device housing a medical plug; connecting the medical plug delivery device to a medical appliance in communication with a patient; selecting a technique of medical plug delivery from at least one of following: (i) connecting a fluid delivery device to the medical plug delivery device and displacing fluid with sufficient force to displace the medical plug; and (ii) inserting a stylet into a proximal end of the medical plug delivery device with sufficient force to displace the medical plug; and displacing the medical plug from the medical plug delivery device according to the selected technique. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the medical plug is displaced into the medical appliance in communication with the patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting a trocar into the medical appliance in communication with the patient wherein the trocar is configured to displace the medical plug into the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the medical plug is displaced into the patient. ### Claim 13 A medical plug delivery device, the device comprising: a housing defining a channel that extends from a proximal end of the medical plug delivery device to a distal end of the medical plug delivery device, wherein the channel is configured to receive a medical plug; a distal connector configured to connect to a distal medical appliance that is in fluid communication with a patient; and a proximal connector configured to connect to a proximal fluid delivery device; wherein a cross-section of the housing that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing defines a perimeter of a portion of the channel, wherein the perimeter comprises: a plurality of inward-most points at a first radius from the longitudinal axis of the housing; and a plurality of outward-most points at a second radius from the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the second radius is longer than the first radius. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medical plug delivery device of claim 13, wherein each point of the plurality of inward-most points is separated from an adjacent inward-most point by an outward-most point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The medical plug delivery device of claim 13, wherein the channel comprises a tapering region that tapers toward the longitudinal axis of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The medical plug delivery device of claim 13, further comprising an elongate, biocompatible medical plug disposed within the channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical plug delivery device of claim 16, wherein the device is configured such that when a fluid flows in a distal direction through the channel, the fluid hydrates the medical plug and ejects the medical plug through a distal opening at the distal end of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The medical plug delivery device of claim 16, wherein the medical plug is frictionally engaged by the plurality of inward-most points. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The medical plug delivery device of claim 13, wherein the housing further defines a shoulder at a proximal end of the channel, the shoulder being configured to engage the medical plug and restrict the medical plug's movement proximal of the shoulder.