Tissue closure device

Abstract

A tissue closure device including a hub and first and second flanges extending therefrom. The hub extends along a central longitudinal axis between a proximal surface and an opposing distal surface. The first flange is frameless and extends from the hub adjacent the proximal surface thereof. The second flange extends from the hub adjacent the distal surface thereof. The first and second flanges are moveable between: a closed position, in which the first and second flanges extend radially away from the hub and are substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis; and an open position, in which the first and second flanges extend longitudinally away from the hub in opposite directions from each other and are substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue closure device for closing an opening in body tissue, the tissue closure device comprising:
 a hub extending along a central longitudinal axis between a proximal surface and an opposing distal surface;   a first flexible yet resilient frameless flange extending from the hub adjacent the proximal surface thereof;   a second flange extending from the hub adjacent the distal surface thereof;   the first and second flanges being movable between:
 a closed position, in which the first and second flanges extend radially away from the hub and are substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis, and 
 an open position, in which the first and second flanges extend longitudinally away from the hub in opposite directions from each other and are substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flange is also frameless and flexible yet resilient. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tissue closure device is biabsorbable. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flanges are substantially parallel with each other in the closed position such that the first flange and the second flange, together bound an annular channel. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hub and flanges are free of metal. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal surface is curved in the closed position to match the curvature of a vessel wall. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flange comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface that both extend to a perimeter end. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first surface of the first flange is substantially coplanar with the proximal surface of the hub when in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second flange comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface that both extend to a perimeter end, and the first surface of the second flange is substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of the hub when in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flanges are offset from each other when in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A tissue closure device for closing an opening in body tissue, the tissue closure device comprising:
 a hub extending along a central longitudinal axis between a first surface and an opposing second surface;   a first flange extending from the hub adjacent the first surface;   a second flange extending from the hub adjacent the second surface;   the first and second flanges being movable between:
 a closed position, in which the first and second flanges extend radially away from the hub and are substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis, and 
 an open position, in which the first and second flanges extend longitudinally away from the hub in opposite directions from each other and are substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis; and 
   a first biasing element associated with the first flange, the first biasing element providing a biasing force to the first flange that is less than a retention force that maintains the first flange in the closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The tissue closure system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a second biasing element associated with the second flange, the second biasing element providing a second biasing force to the second flange that is less than a second retention force that maintains the second flange in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 11 , wherein the tissue closure device is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         14 . A tissue closure device for closing an opening in body tissue, the tissue closure device comprising:
 a hub extending along a central longitudinal axis between a proximal surface and an opposing distal surface,   a first annular flange extending from the hub adjacent the proximal surface, and   a second annular flange extending from the hub adjacent the distal surface,   wherein the first flange includes a first biasing element completely encapsulated by the first flange, the first biasing element being a single layer of wire mesh, the first and second flanges extending longitudinally away from the hub in opposite directions from each other and being substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis such that the flanges generally form a cylinder and a continuous terminal edge of each flange forms each end of the cylinder, wherein the second flange does not have a biasing element.   
     
     
         15 . The tissue closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the first flange, the second flange, and the hub are integrally formed. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are substantially circular. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 14 , wherein the tissue closure device is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second flanges are offset from each other when in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A tissue closure system comprising:
 a tissue closure device as recited in  claim 1     a deployment apparatus for positioning the tissue closure device, the deployment apparatus comprising:
 a sheath having a lumen extending therethrough, the tissue closure device being in the open position when disposed within the lumen; and 
 a deployment member for expelling the tissue closure device out of the lumen, the tissue closure device moving to the closed position upon expulsion from the lumen. 
   
     
     
         20 . The tissue closure system according to  claim 19 , wherein the deployment apparatus further comprises a bleed back lumen formed on the sheath.