Apparatus and method for percutaneous sealing of blood vessel punctures

A method for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel puncture accessed subcutaneously through a sheath, comprising:

• enclosing a catheter and a compression element in the sheath, the compression element located at a distal end of the catheter and in a collapsed position near a distal end of the sheath;
• positioning the sheath and the catheter at a predetermined distance in a proximal direction from the puncture, while maintaining the compression element enclosed within the sheath;
• moving the sheath axially relative to the compression element in the proximal direction to expose the compression element near the blood vessel puncture;
• expanding the compression element;
• and
• applying pressure to the compression element for a first period of time.

A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel puncture by compressing the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, wherein the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through an incision, the device comprising:

• an introducer configured to provide access to the puncture through the incision, the introducer having a proximal portion, a distal end initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial channel therebetween;
• a catheter dimensioned to be received within the axial channel and having an axial lumen communicating with an open distal end, the introducer being axially movable relative to the catheter between a distal position and a proximal position, the distal end of the catheter being enclosed within the introducer when the introducer is in its distal position, and being exposed to the subcutaneous tissue distally from the distal end of the introducer when the introducer is moved to its proximal position;
• an expansible compression means coupled to the distal end of the catheter, the compression means having a collapsed position when the distal end of the catheter is enclosed, and an expanded tissue-compressing position when the distal end of the catheter is exposed;
• a dissolvable locating member extending distally from the distal end of the catheter and having a distal tip portion insertable into the interior of the vessel through the puncture, the distal tip portion being spaced from the catheter distal end by a predetermined axial distance in the distal direction, the predetermined axial distance being sufficient to position the catheter distal end outside of the blood vessel and spaced proximally from the puncture when the distal tip portion is inserted into the puncture, thereby to allow a layer of subcutaneous tissue to be disposed between the puncture and the expansible compression means;
• wherein a force applied to the compression means when in the expanded position compresses the layer of subcutaneous tissue.

A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel puncture where the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through a sheath having an axial channel, comprising:

• a catheter to be received within the axial channel, said catheter having a distal end;
• an expansible compression means coupled to the distal end, said expansible compression means having a collapsed position when enclosed by the sheath, and an expanded position when exposed to the subcutaneous tissue;
• and
• a puncture locating means spaced from the distal end of the compression means by a predetermined axial distance in the distal direction, the predetermined axial distance being sufficient to position the compression means distal end outside of the blood vessel and spaced proximally from the puncture when the puncture locating means is disposed within the puncture, thereby to position the layer of subcuteanous tissue between the puncture and the compression means distal end;
• wherein a force applied to the pressure element compresses the layer of subcutaneous tissue.

A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel puncture where the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through a sheath having an axial channel, comprising:

• a catheter to be received within the axial channel, said catheter having a distal end and a lumen;
• a foam pad coupled to the distal end, said foam pad having a collapsed position when enclosed within the sheath, and an expanded position when exposed to the subcutaneous tissue;
• and
• a puncture locating means spaced from the distal end of the foam pad by a predetermined axial distance in the distal direction, the predetermined axial distance being sufficient to position the foam pad distal end outside of the blood vessel and spaced proximally from the puncture when the puncture locating means is disposed within the puncture, thereby to position a layer of subcuteanous tissue between the puncture and the foam pad distal end;
• wherein a force applied to the foam pad compresses the layer of subcutaneous tissue.