Apparatus and method for sealing vascular punctures
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for percutaneously sealing a vascular puncture, said apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated member having a lumen therein and at least two electrodes connectable to a radio frequency power source, said electrodes being adapted to contact biological tissue at spaced points; and
b) said lumen being adapted to guide the electrodes to the biological tissue at said spaced points, said apparatus being adapted to thermally fuse together biological tissue surrounding said vascular puncture to effect closure thereof.
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Abstract
An apparatus for closing and sealing a vascular puncture is connected to an energy supply such that heat is generated in, or thermally conducted to, the tissue, thereby thermally fusing the vascular tissue together. The method for closing and sealing a vascular puncture comprises applying radio frequency or other energy to the tissue, the energy being sufficient to thermally fuse the tissue together, thus sealing the puncture. Embodiments of depth finding and guiding devices, as well as blood vessel occluders, are also disclosed.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for percutaneously sealing a vascular puncture, said apparatus comprising:
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a) an elongated member having a lumen therein and at least two electrodes connectable to a radio frequency power source, said electrodes being adapted to contact biological tissue at spaced points; and b) said lumen being adapted to guide the electrodes to the biological tissue at said spaced points, said apparatus being adapted to thermally fuse together biological tissue surrounding said vascular puncture to effect closure thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 12)
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4. A method of using radio frequency energy to close a vascular puncture comprising the steps of:
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a) guiding a cautery device to the site of the vascular puncture, said cautery device comprising at least one electrode connected to a radio frequency energy source; and b) activating the radio frequency energy source, thereby causing the tissue surrounding the puncture to fuse together. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of using radio frequency energy to close a vascular puncture comprising the steps of:
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a) guiding a cautery device to the site of the vascular puncture using a Doppler flow detection system, said cautery device comprising at least one electrode connected to a radio frequency energy source; and b) activating the radio frequency energy source, thereby causing the tissue surrounding the puncture to fuse together. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of using radio frequency energy to close a vascular puncture comprising the steps of:
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a) guiding a cautery device to the site of the vascular puncture using ultrasound, said cautery device comprising at least one electrode connected to a radio frequency energy source; and b) activating the radio frequency energy source, thereby causing the tissue surrounding the puncture to fuse together.
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Specification