Methods and apparatus for hemostasis following arterial catheterization

A method for accelerating hemostasis of an artery having a puncture after arterial catheterization, said catheterization using a catheter introducer, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting into an artery a catheter introducer prior to arterial catheterization;
• following arterial catheterization, introducing a hemostasis device into said catheter introducer, such that a forward end of said hemostasis device lies exterior of the artery adjacent a puncture in a wall of the artery;
• accelerating hemostasis by heating blood in the vicinity of said puncture, thereby shortening the time required for hemostasis;
• and
• following hemostasis, removing said catheter introducer and hemostasis device from the patient.

Hemostasis apparatus comprising:

• an elongate element;
• at least one inflatable balloon disposed adjacent a forward end of said elongate element and being adapted to form a skirt surrounding and sealing a puncture in an artery;
• a resistance element, disposed at a forward edge of said forward end and being operative as a resistance heater adapted to heat blood adjacent said resistance element and as
• a resistance sensor adapted for sensing the resistance of said blood;
• and
• a resistance indicator, operative to provide an indication of the resistance at said resistance sensor, and thus being adapted to monitor the progress of hemostasis.