Vascular Closure System With Splayable Staple

Abstract

A medical device for closing an opening in tissue may include a staple with a plurality of tines, where the staple is deformable from an initial configuration to a splayed configuration and then to a closed configuration; a cradle that includes a distal stop and a proximal stop proximal to the distal stop extending therefrom, where the cradle holds a portion of the staple between the proximal stop and the distal stop, and where the proximal stop and distal stop are spaced apart from one another a fixed distance substantially equal to the thickness of the portion of the staple held therebetween, where that portion of the staple substantially contacts both stops in the initial configuration; and a housing, where the cradle is movable relative to that housing.

1 . A medical device for closing an opening in tissue, comprising:
 a staple including a plurality of tines, wherein said staple is deformable from an initial configuration to a splayed configuration and then to a closed configuration;   a cradle that includes a distal stop and a proximal stop proximal to said distal stop extending therefrom; wherein said cradle holds a portion of said staple between said proximal stop and said distal stop; and wherein said proximal stop and said distal stop are spaced apart from one another a fixed distance substantially equal to the thickness of said portion of said staple held therebetween, such that said portion of said staple substantially contacts both said proximal stop and said distal stop in said initial configuration; and   a housing, wherein said cradle is movable relative to said housing.   
   
   
       2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said staple includes a tab extending therefrom, and wherein at least one of said proximal stop and said distal stop is shaped to receive said tab. 
   
   
       3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a guide therein along which said cradle is movable. 
   
   
       4 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein said guide is a track defined in said housing. 
   
   
       5 . The medical device of  claim 3 , wherein said guide is substantially linear and substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said housing. 
   
   
       6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a paddle assembly movable relative to said housing, wherein said paddle assembly includes at least one paddle with a splay post extending therefrom; each said splay post positioned distal to said staple. 
   
   
       7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein said paddle assembly is movable by sliding substantially longitudinally. 
   
   
       8 . The medical device of  claim 6 , further comprising a driver movable relative to said cradle and said paddle assembly. 
   
   
       9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal attached to the distal end of said housing. 
   
   
       10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said staple is plastically deformable. 
   
   
       11 . A medical device for closing an opening in tissue, comprising:
 a staple including a plurality of tines extending from a base, wherein said base includes at least two peaks spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline of said staple, and a trough located between said peaks, wherein the longitudinal centerline of said staple passes through said trough;   a cradle that holds at least a part of said staple;   a paddle assembly movable relative to said cradle, said paddle assembly including at least two spaced-apart paddles; and   a driver bifurcated at the distal end thereof into two spaced-apart branches;   wherein said driver is movable relative to said cradle and said paddle assembly; and wherein said driver is movable distally such that each said branch contacts and exerts a distal force on a corresponding said peak of said staple.   
   
   
       12 . The medical device of  claim 11 , further comprising a housing within which at least part of said staple, said cradle, said paddle assembly and said driver are located. 
   
   
       13 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one stop is defined in said housing, wherein said stop limits motion of at least one of the group that includes said staple, said cradle, said paddle assembly and said driver. 
   
   
       14 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one ledge is defined in said housing; wherein said paddle assembly is movable distally along a travel length, and wherein each said ledge supports a corresponding said paddle along less than the entire said travel length. 
   
   
       15 . The medical device of  claim 11 , further comprising an ejection post extending upward from at least one said paddle. 
   
   
       16 . A medical device for closing an opening in tissue, comprising:
 a staple including two tines, wherein said staple is splayable from an first configuration to a second configuration, and wherein said staple is then closeable to a third configuration;   two ridges spaced laterally apart from one another, each said ridge configured to contact a distally-oriented surface of a corresponding said tine of said staple and restrain said staple against motion in the distal direction; and   a driver configured to contact a proximally-oriented surface of said staple, wherein relative longitudinal motion of said ridges and said driver splays said staple to said second configuration.   
   
   
       17 . The medical device of  claim 16 , further comprising a cradle that holds said staple, and wherein relative longitudinal motion of said driver and said cradle closes said staple to said third configuration. 
   
   
       18 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein said ridges are configured to move out of contact with said staple after said relative longitudinal motion of said ridges and said driver splays said staple to said second configuration, and before said relative longitudinal motion of said driver and said cradle closes said staple to said third configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The medical device of  claim 16 , further comprising a bifurcated paddle assembly, wherein each said ridge extends from a bifurcation of said bifurcated paddle assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein said staple is generally M-shaped, and has two peaks, each said peak oriented in the proximal direction and located at a proximal-most location of said staple; wherein said staple includes two valleys, each said valley located longitudinally opposite a corresponding said peak and oriented in the distal direction; and wherein each said ridge contacts said staple at a corresponding said valley.