(54) APPARATUS, KIT AND METHODS FOR PUNCTURE SITE CLOSURE
(76) Inventor: William Roberts, R.R. #1, Box 1125, Fairfield, VT (US) 05455
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/444,997
(22) Filed: Nov. 23, 1999
(51) Int. C I. A61B 17 04
(52) U.S. C I 606/144
(58) Field of Search 606/139, 144,
606/147, 213, 148
(56) References Cited
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Primary Examiner—Gary Jackson (57) ABSTRACT
A puncture site closure apparatus includes a collar for being disposed on a portal sleeve extending through an opening in anatomical tissue and a pair of guide members disposed on opposite sides of the collar. The guide members are angled in directions opposite one another to form a predetermined angle with a central longitudinal axis of the collar such that lengths of suture material can be optimally inserted in the tissue through a hollow penetrating member guided through the tissue by the guide members. The puncture site closure apparatus can be provided as part of a kit including a penetrating instrument used to form an opening in anatomical tissue. A method of closing an opening in anatomical tissue through which a portal sleeve extends comprises the steps of moving a collar along the portal sleeve to position lower ends of guide members adjacent the tissue at selected locations, advancing a hollow penetrating member within one of the guide members to enter and exit the anatomical tissue, passing a length of suture material through the penetrating member so that a first end of the suture material protrudes internally of the tissue and a second end of the suture material is disposed externally of the tissue, removing the penetrating member from the tissue, drawing the first end through the portal sleeve to be disposed externally of the tissue, repeating the advancing, passing, removing and drawing steps on the other guide member to place another length of suture material in the anatomical tissue, tying the first ends together, externally of the tissue, to form a knot, passing the knot through the portal sleeve to dispose the knot internally of the tissue, withdrawing the portal sleeve from the opening, and tying the second ends together to form a knot whereby a closure is formed in the tissue.
32 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
