Catheter devices and methods of closing openings in tissue

A catheter device for closing an opening in a tissue, comprising an outer sheath and an inner sheath, an inner shaft, a first expandable tissue support, and a piercing head,

• wherein the inner sheath has a longitudinal axis and wherein the inner shaft extends through the inner sheath along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the first expandable tissue support is configured to expand into a deployed position, wherein in the deployed position, the first expandable tissue support defines a first support surface for a tissue to be pierced,
• wherein the piercing head is movable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first tissue support,
• wherein the piercing head further comprises at least two needles pointing in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and in a direction of the first support surface, and wherein the needles are adapted to carry a suture.

A method of closing an opening in a tissue of a patient, comprising

• introducing a catheter device into a patient's body and through a tissue opening to be closed,
• preferably holding the tissue on at least a first side of the opening using a tissue holder,
• piercing the tissue at least twice, on a second side, using at least two needles, preferably wherein the first side is a proximal side and the second side is a distal side of the opening, and delivering one pledget through each needle to the first side, wherein the each pledget is attached to a suture,
• pulling the needle back such that each suture passes through the tissue from the first side to the second side,
• attaching the sutures on the second side such as to close the opening.

A method of closing an opening in a tissue of a patient, comprising

• arranging a first hub on a second side of a tissue with an opening, wherein the first hub is connected to a first end of a bridge suture,
• delivering a closure suture through the tissue, from a first side to the second side, using a first needle which is pierced through the tissue, and attaching the closure suture to the first hub,
• using a second needle which is attached to a second end of the bridge suture to pierce through the tissue and deliver the second end of the bridge suture from the second side to the first side, and attaching the bridge suture to a second hub arranged on the first side,
• pulling the bridge suture at the second end, such as to pull the closure suture attached to the first end of the bridge suture, through the tissue back to the first side,
• securing the closure suture such as to close the opening.