Arterial hole closure apparatus

An apparatus for closing an access opening in a tissue wall while permitting post operative fluid flow through the tissue conduit, which comprises:

• a housing having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween;
• first and second tissue everting members mounted adjacent the distal end of the housing, the first and second tissue everting members being dimensioned for at least partially positioning within the tissue access opening in the tissue conduit wall, the first and second tissue everting members being deployable in at least a radial outward direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing to engage respective opposed tissue portions on opposed sides of the opening and move the tissue portions to an everted condition thereof;
• first and second jaw members mounted adjacent the first and second tissue engaging members, the first and second jaw members adapted for relative movement between an open position to facilitate positioning about the tissue portions in the everted condition and a closed position to at least partially draw the tissue portions together to an at least partially approximated condition;
• and an electrode associated with each jaw member and arranged to contact the respective tissue portions, the electrode including at least one stop member for controlling distance between the electrodes, the electrodes being adapted to be connected to a radiofrequency energy source whereby energy is transmitted through the electrodes to seal the tissue positioned between the first and second jaw members to substantially close the access opening.