Apparatus and method for sealing a vascular puncture
An apparatus for sealing a puncture through a vessel wall including a positioning assembly, a sheath releasably engaged with the positioning assembly, and a support member axially advanceable through the sheath. The positioning assembly includes a positioning element positioned at a distal portion of the positioning assembly and a sealant disposed at a distal portion of the positioning assembly. The sheath guides the sealant and positioning assembly to the puncture in the vessel wall.
1. A method for sealing an arteriotomy in a vessel, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus comprising:
a tubular member;
a sealant disposed inside the tubular member;
a support member proximal to the sealant; and
an actuator;
transitioning the actuator to a first position, thereby retracting the tubular member to at least partially expose the sealant; and
transitioning the actuator to a second position, thereby advancing the support member to tamp the sealant,
wherein the support member becomes operatively coupled to the actuator upon expiration of a predetermined delay such that advancement of the support member is delayed until after the tubular member is retracted to at least partially expose the sealant.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transitioning the actuator comprises moving the actuator relative to a housing of the apparatus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transitioning the actuator to the first position further comprises:
operatively coupling the actuator to the tubular member.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the tubular member via a first rack connected to the tubular member.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein operatively coupling the actuator to the tubular member further comprises:
interacting a first set of teeth located on the actuator with a second set of teeth located on a pinion to cause rotational movement of the pinion; and
interacting a third set of teeth located on the first rack with a fourth set of teeth located on the pinion to cause translational movement of the first rack.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
translating the first rack in a proximal direction, thereby retracting the tubular member in the proximal direction.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the support member via a second rack and moving the second rack in a distal direction advances the support member in the distal direction.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein operatively coupling the support member to the actuator comprises operatively coupling the second rack to the actuator.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a proximal end of the support member is positioned having a space apart from the second rack and the predetermined delay is based on a length of the space.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
advancing the second rack through the space until the second rack engages the proximal end of the support member; and
pushing the support member in the distal direction upon engagement of the second rack with the proximal end of the support member.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member retracts immediately following the transition of the actuator to the first position.
12. A method comprising:
providing an apparatus for positioning relative to an arteriotomy, the apparatus comprising:
a positioning assembly comprising an elongate member and a positioning element at a distal portion of the elongate member; and
a sealant carried on the elongate member proximal to the positioning element;
radially expanding the positioning element;
deploying the sealant; and
radially contracting the positioning element by evacuating fluid therefrom through an inflation line, whereupon a fluid line is opened which causes an element to slide proximally within a housing of the apparatus, thereby withdrawing the expandable member proximally through the sealant.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising activating a retraction actuator to withdraw the positioning element through the sealant.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: selectively opening and closing the fluid line via a flow control switch.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the flow control switch is closed during evacuation of fluid through the inflation line and opened to evacuate fluid through the fluid line.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
withdrawing the positioning element into a distal end of the elongate member.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
withdrawing the apparatus to remove the elongated member from the arteriotomy.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon.