Vascular wound closure device

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for facilitating the locating and closing of an opening in a blood vessel. The apparatus includes a catheter and retractor that are advanced over a guidewire until they are positioned at or adjacent the vascular wound. The retractor comprises a plurality of members that close upon and engage the catheter. A coupling member selectively maintains the retractor members in the closed position.

1 . A vascular wound closure device, comprising: 
 an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, at least a portion of the body being tapered toward the distal end, the body comprising two separately-formed elongate body members, each body member having an inner surface having an elongate groove formed therein, such that when the internal surfaces of the body members abut one another, the grooves cooperate to form a channel extending along the length of the body;    an elongate hollow dilator having an elongate lumen comprising a proximal opening and a distal opening at the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the dilator, the lumen sized and adapted to accommodate a guidewire therethrough, the dilator sized and adapted so that part of the dilator fits within the body channel, and the distal end of the dilator extends from the body channel;    an annular cap configured to fit over the proximal end of the body when the body members are engaged with one another, the annular cap having a hole adapted to generally align with the body channel; and    a coupling structure adapted to engage the annular cap with the proximal end of the body so that the body members are held together at least partially by the annular cap.    
   
   
       2 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 1 , wherein the annular cap in internally threaded, and proximal ends of the body members are externally threaded so that the cap is threadable onto the engaged body members.  
   
   
       3 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 1 , wherein the dilator comprises a hole formed through a side of the dilator and into the lumen, and the dilator is positioned relative to the body so that the side hole is disposed distal of the distal end of the body.  
   
   
       4 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 3 , wherein the body is disposed on the dilator so that the distal end of the body is disposed proximal of the side hole a distance at least equal to a thickness of a blood vessel wall.  
   
   
       5 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 4 , wherein the body is disposed on the dilator so that the distal end of the body is about 0.5-1.5 mm proximal the side hole.  
   
   
       6 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 4 , wherein a pin extends from one of the body members, a guide passage is formed in the other body member, and the pin is configured to fit in the guide passage so as to align the body members.  
   
   
       7 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 1 , wherein a pin extends from one of the body members, a guide passage is formed in the other body member, and the pin is configured to fit in the guide passage so as to align the body members.  
   
   
       8 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 7 , wherein the coupling structure is configured so that the annular cap readily couples to the body members when the body members are aligned with the pin fit into the guide passage.  
   
   
       9 . A vascular wound closure device as in  claim 8 , wherein the proximal ends of the body members are threaded and an interior surface of the annular cap is threaded so as to engage the body member threads.  
   
   
       10 . A vascular closure device, comprising: 
 a retractor comprising two elongate members adapted to move relative to each other between open and closed positions, each member having a distal end and a proximal end, and the members are adapted to define a longitudinal channel therebetween when in the closed position;    an elongate catheter having a lumen adapted to slidably accommodate a guidewire, the catheter configured to at least partially fit into the longitudinal channel so that a distal portion of the catheter extends from a distal end of the retractor; and    means for aligning the elongate retractor members and selectively maintaining the retractor members in the closed position so that the retractor members engage the catheter and hold the catheter in place, the aligning means comprising an aperture generally aligned with the longitudinal channel.    
   
   
       11 . A vascular closure device as in  claim 10  additionally comprising: 
 a source of negative pressure connected to the catheter lumen;    an opening formed through an outer wall of the catheter and communicating with the lumen; and    a guide point defined on an outer surface of the catheter proximal of the opening, a longitudinal distance between the opening and the guide point being at least the same as the thickness of a vascular vessel wall;    wherein the distal ends of the retractor members are positioned at or adjacent the guide point.    
   
   
       12 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein the guide point comprises a notch formed in the catheter.  
   
   
       13 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the guide point and the opening is slightly greater than a wall thickness of a human femoral artery.  
   
   
       14 . A device as in  claim 13 , wherein the distance is at least about 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       15 . A device as in  claim 11 , wherein the retractor additionally comprises a handle portion operatively connected to the movable members.  
   
   
       16 . A device as in  claim 15 , wherein the handle portion comprises two handles and a locking mechanism, and the handles are operatively connected at a hinge.