Articulating suturing device and method

Abstract

A device for closing an opening in tissue includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a channel disposed between the proximal and distal ends. A pair of pins are disposed within the channel and cooperate with a slidable and axially movable foot. The foot extends distally from the channel with a flexible guidebody extending from a distal foot end of the foot.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vessel closure device, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bend in said shaft near said distal end, a lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end, a channel disposed between said proximal end and said distal end, and extending proximally from said distal end of said shaft;   a foot received within said channel, said foot having a proximal foot end and a distal foot end, said foot being movable with respect to said shaft, said foot having a low profile configuration and a deployed configuration, said foot disposed within said channel in said low profile configuration, said foot configured to axially rotate from said low profile configuration toward said deployed configuration;   a foot actuator near said proximal end of said shaft, connected to said foot and configured to move said foot from said low profile configuration to said deployed configuration;   a needle actuator near said proximal end of said shaft; and   a foot position verification lumen, said foot position verification lumen including a blood inlet port near said foot, said foot position verification lumen including a blood exit port.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said foot is axially movable within said channel. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said foot actuator is configured to axially move said foot from said low profile configuration to said deployed configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one hollow needle. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein a flexible filament is disposed within said at least one hollow needle. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a guidewire lumen, and wherein a guidewire is disposed in said guidewire lumen and out of said shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , said foot position verification lumen including a clear receptacle in which blood is visible, electrical pressure sensors, or electrolytic fluid detectors. 
     
     
         28 . A method for closing a vessel opening through a vessel wall in a vessel, comprising:
 inserting a guidewire into said vessel through said vessel opening of said vessel; positioning a vessel closure device with respect to said guidewire, said vessel closure device having a foot, said foot having a low profile configuration and a deployed configuration, said foot disposed within a channel of said vessel closure device in said low profile configuration, said foot configured to axially rotate from said low profile configuration toward said deployed configuration;   using a foot position verification lumen to determine proper positioning of said foot, said foot position verification lumen including a blood inlet port and a blood outlet port, said foot position verification lumen configured to allow blood to travel from said vessel, in said blood inlet port and out of said blood outlet port;   actuating a foot actuator attached to said foot to move said foot from said low profile configuration toward said deployed configuration within said vessel;   retracting said vessel closure device until said foot in said deployed configuration contacts said vessel wall;   using a needle actuator to puncture tissue adjacent to said vessel opening;   retracting said needle actuator;   using said foot actuator to move said foot back toward said low profile configuration from said deployed configuration; and   removing said vessel closure device from said vessel opening.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said guidewire extends into a lumen in said vessel closure device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said needle actuator actuates at least two needles to puncture at least twice said vessel wall adjacent to said vessel opening. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a needle receptacle directs said at least two needles to a desired location within said vessel wall. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a flexible filament is inserted into said vessel through a hollow needle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein a portion of said flexible filament is left inside said vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said foot actuator is configured to axially move said foot from said low profile configuration to said deployed configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said foot verification lumen includes a clear receptacle in which blood is visible, electrical pressure sensors, or electrolytic fluid detectors. 
     
     
         36 . A method for closing a vessel opening through a vessel wall in a vessel, comprising:
 inserting a guidewire into said vessel through said vessel opening of said vessel;   traversing said guidewire from said vessel, through a lumen in a vessel closure device and out of said vessel;   positioning said vessel closure device with respect to said guidewire, said vessel closure device having a foot, said foot having a low profile configuration and a deployed configuration, said foot disposed within a channel of said vessel closure device in said low profile configuration, said foot configured to axially rotate from said low profile configuration toward said deployed configuration;   using a foot position verification lumen to determine proper positioning of said foot, said foot position verification lumen including a blood inlet port and a blood outlet port, said foot position verification lumen configured to allow blood to travel from said vessel, in said blood inlet port and out of said blood outlet port;   actuating a foot actuator attached to said foot to axially move said foot from said low profile configuration toward said deployed configuration within said vessel;   retracting said vessel closure device until said foot in said deployed configuration contacts said vessel wall;   using a needle actuator to puncture tissue adjacent to said vessel opening using at least one hollow needle;   inserting a flexible filament into said vessel through said hollow needle;   retracting said needle actuator, leaving at least a portion of said flexible filament in the vessel;   using said foot actuator to move said foot back toward said low profile configuration from said deployed configuration; and   removing said vessel closure device from said vessel opening.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said needle actuator actuates at least two needles to puncture at least twice said vessel wall adjacent to said vessel opening. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein a needle receptacle directs said at least two needles to a desired location within said vessel wall. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said foot actuator is configured to axially move said foot from said low profile configuration to said deployed configuration. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said foot verification lumen includes a clear receptacle in which blood is visible, electrical pressure sensors, or electrolytic fluid detectors.