[54] CLOSURE DEVICE AND METHOD
[75] Inventors: Daniel M. Lafontaine, Plymouth; Kent D. Harrison, Maple Grove, both ol Minn.
[73] Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, Minn.
[21] Appl. No.: 08/932,990 [22] Filed: Sep. 18, 1997
[51] Int. CI. A61B 17 04
[52] U.S. CI 606/213; 606/139; 606/143;
606/149
[58] Field of Search 606/149, 139,
606/213, 148, 144
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,908,662 9/1975 Razgulov et al 606/149
5,234,447 8/1993 Kaster et al 606/213
5,364,408 11/1994 Gordon 606/144
5,478,353 12/1995 Yoon 606/213
5,776,152 7/1998 Sekons 606/148
5,782,861 7/1998 Cragg et al 606/216
5,817,110 10/1998 Kronner 606/149
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Crompton, Seager & Tulte [57] ABSTRACT
An apparatus is provided for closing a perforation in a wall ol a patient's blood vessel or other organs, and a method ol introducing the apparatus and causing the closure are described. The apparatus includes an elongated support member having a distal end supporting one or more tissue engaging hooks configured to engage fibrous vessel tissue when moved in a first direction and to disengage the tissue when moved in a second direction, and a proximal end for applying rotational torque to the support member to cause the hooks to engage collagen fibrous tissue in the adventitia ol the blood vessel or fibrous tissue in other body organs. The hooks engaging the collagen fiber causes the blood vessel tissue surrounding the perforation to be drawn into close proximity such that the perforation can be closed. The apparatus can be removed by applying reverse rotation ol the support member, whereby the hooks are disengaged. The apparatus is deployed in an outer sheath with the hooks encased until a selected engaging location has been achieved. When positioned in the aperture to be closed, the hooks are exposed to allow interaction with the adventitia. Puncture closure can be accomplished by various techniques, including stasis, cauterizing, or by clamping. Various embodiments ol the apparatus are described.
