Anchoring device and method for sealing punctures in vessels

A method of sealing a puncture in a tissue within a living body, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a puncture sealing device into a living body so that a proximal end of the device remains outside the body while a distal portion of the device penetrates through a puncture formed in a tissue within the body so that a distal end of the device is located within a body cavity bounded by the tissue;
• expanding a seal radially outwardly from the device to prevent the flow of bodily fluids to the puncture, wherein the seal is spaced distally from the anchor member;
• extending an anchor member radially outwardly from the device from an insertion/retraction position into an anchor position;
• partially withdrawing the device proximally from the body until the anchor member contacts the tissue of the body cavity adjacent to the puncture to locate the device in a desired position relative to the puncture;
• applying an adhesive to the puncture via an adhesive lumen extending from an adhesive inlet port to an adhesive exit port;
• returning the seal to its pre-expansion position;
• retracting the anchor member into the insertion/retraction position;
• and
• withdrawing the device from the body through the sealing material while maintaining the sealing material in place to seal the puncture.

A device for sealing a puncture in a tissue within a living body, comprising:

• a flexible tube including an opening, wherein the flexible tube extends from a proximal end which, when the device is in an operative position, is located outside the living body, to a distal end which, in the operative position, is located within the living body on a distal side of the puncture;
• an inner member slidably received within the flexible tube so that the inner member may be moved proximally and distally with respect to the flexible tube;
• an adhesive lumen extending through the flexible tube from an adhesive inlet port to an adhesive exit port, the adhesive inlet port being outside the living body when the device is in the operative position and the adhesive exit port being adjacent to the puncture when the device is in the operative position;
• and
• a flexible anchor member a first end of which is coupled to the inner member so that, when the inner member is moved with respect to the outer member, a second end of the anchor member moves between a first position in which it is received within the flexible tube and a second position in which it extends through the opening outside the flexible tube, wherein, when in an unstressed state, a first substantially straight portion of the flexible anchor member extends from the first end thereof substantially parallel to the inner member, to a second portion which is curved so that the second end of the flexible anchor member extends toward the distal end of the flexible tube.