Vascular sealing device

A medical sealing apparatus for closing a percutaneous puncture in a patient's vascular system and for use with a hemostatic introducer, comprising:

• a. a thin, elongated conduit having a predetermined outside diameter and a central lumen, said conduit having proximal and distal ends, said conduit distal end being insertable into the patient body aperture and having an inflation segment including an external orifice which is communicatively connected to said lumen, said inflation segment coaxially extending from conduit distal end, said conduit proximal end having cylindrical outside configuration of the same diameter as that of said conduit:
• b. a hollow, inflatable member sealingly disposed at said conduit distal end inflation segment, said member being inflatable to a predetermined diameter, said member having a tubular configuration in an uninflated state with a tube wall and opposing tube ends, said tube ends being sealingly secured to said inflation segment, and said member having a rounded configuration in an inflated state;
• c. a seal adhereingly disposed within said conduit central lumen along a predetermined segment at said proximal end thereof, said seal consisting of a continuous, homogeneous packing of elastomeric material, said seal permitting sealing ingress and egress of a syringe to inject or evacuate a fluid into or from said conduit lumen for inflation and deflation of said inflatable member;
• and
• d. a fixation member for securement of said conduit in a fixed position on the patient body exterior, said fixation member having a base portion for contact with the patient body and means to engage said conduit.

A method for closing a percutaneous puncture in a patient's vascular system and which is insertable and removable through a standard, hemostatic sheath, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a medical sealing apparatus, comprising:
• i) a thin, elongated conduit having a central lumen, said conduit having proximal and distal ends, said conduit distal end being insertable into the patient body aperture and having an inflation segment including an external orifice which is communicatively connected to said lumen, said conduit proximal end having a cylindrical outside configuration of a uniform diameter;
• ii. a hollow, inflatable member sealingly disposed at said conduit distal end inflation segment, said member being inflatable to a predetermined diameter;
• iii. a seal consisting of an elastomeric material continuously and adhereingly disposed in said conduit central lumen along a predetermined segment at said proximal end thereof, said seal permitting ingress and egress of fluid to and from said conduit lumen via a syringe;
• and
• iv. a securement member for fixing the position of the conduit on the patient body exterior, said securement member having a base portion for contact with the patient body and means to engage said conduit;
• b. inserting said apparatus through the sheath and into the percutaneous puncture;
• c. inflating said inflatable member by inserting a syringe through said elastomeric seal and injecting fluid into said central lumen;
• d. positioning said inflatable member into contact with the patient's vasculature;
• e. withdrawing the sheath longitudinally over said conduit;
• and
• f. securing said conduit in a fixed position at the patient body exterior via said fixation member.

A medical sealing apparatus for closing of an aperture in a patient body, comprising:

• a. a thin, elongated conduit having a central lumen, said conduit having proximal and distal ends, said conduit distal end being insertable into the patient body aperture and having an inflation segment including an external orifice which is communicatively connected to said lumen, said conduit proximal end having a cylindrical configuration of a uniform outside diameter;
• b. an expandable member sealingly disposed at said conduit distal end inflation segment, said expandable member being inflatable to a predetermined diameter;
• c. a seal consisting of an elastomeric material continuously and adhereingly disposed in said conduit central lumen along a predetermined segment at said proximal end thereof, said seal permitting ingress and egress of fluid to and from said conduit lumen via a syringe;
• and
• d. means to apply a longitudinally oriented tension force on the exterior of a patient body, with respect to said conduit central axis, to said expandable member when in an inserted, inflated state, whereby said expandable member is held in a stable position internal to the patient body aperture until the patient body aperture is closed.