Self-closing devices and methods for making and using them

1. A method for implanting a vascular access device into a patient's body for performing hemodialysis, comprising:

providing an access device defining a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a continuous wall formed from elastomeric base material including inner and outer surfaces and defining opposite side edges extending between the first and second ends, the access device comprising a plurality of elongate elastic elements embedded in the base material, and fabric or porous material at least partially covering the base material, the elastic elements separable laterally within the base material to accommodate creating an opening through the base material when an instrument is introduced through the base material during hemodialysis, and biased to return laterally towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the instrument;

exposing a tubular body structure within a limb of a patient's body;

wrapping the access device around the body structure such that the inner surface of the access device is positioned against the outer surface of the body structure; and

attaching the access device to the body structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body structure comprises at least one of a tubular graft, a fistula, and a blood vessel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access device is attached to the body structure using one or more sutures.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a plurality of bands embedded in the base material, each band comprising longitudinal struts extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and curved connectors connecting alternate ends of the longitudinal struts to define a zigzag pattern such that the zigzag pattern extends between the side edges of the access device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a plurality of bands embedded in the base material, each band extending between the first and second ends of the access device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a zigzag pattern that zigzags transversely relative to the longitudinal axis while the elastic elements extend generally axially between the first and second ends of the base material.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the bands extend helically around a periphery of the access device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the inner surface of the access device against the outer surface of the body structure, comprises:

separating the side edges of the access device to open the access device;

positioning the access device adjacent the outer surface of the body structure; and

releasing the side edges such that the inner surface of the access device wraps at least partially around the outer surface of the body structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the access device compresses the body structure when the side edges are released.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access device is provided in a substantially flat configuration, and wherein positioning the inner surface of the access device against the outer surface of the body structure comprises wrapping the access device at least partially around the body structure.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body structure is located within an arm of the patient's body.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access device is attached to the body structure by stitching with one or more sutures.

13. A method for implanting a vascular access device into a patient's body for performing hemodialysis, comprising:

exposing a blood vessel within a limb of the patient's body; and

wrapping an access device around the outer surface of the blood vessel, the access device defining a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a continuous wall having a “C” shaped cross-section formed from elastomeric base material including inner and outer surfaces and defining opposite side edges extending between the first and second ends, the access device comprising a plurality of elastic elements embedded in the base material, and fabric or porous material at least partially covering the base material, the elastic elements separable laterally within the base material to accommodate creating an opening through the base material when an instrument is introduced through the base material during hemodialysis, and biased to return laterally towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the instrument; and

attaching the access device to the blood vessel.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the access device is attached to the blood vessel using one or more sutures.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a plurality of bands embedded in the base material, each band comprising longitudinal struts extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and curved connectors connecting alternate ends of the longitudinal struts to define a zigzag pattern such that the zigzag pattern extends between the side edges of the access device.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a plurality of bands embedded in the base material, each band extending between the first and second ends of the access device.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a zigzag pattern that zigzags transversely relative to the longitudinal axis while the elastic elements extend generally axially between the first and second ends of the base material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the bands extend helically around a periphery of the access device.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the access device to the outer surface of the blood vessel, comprises:

separating the side edges of the access device to open the access device;

positioning the access device adjacent the outer surface of the body structure; and

releasing the side edges such that the inner surface of the access device wraps at least partially around the outer surface of the body structure.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the access device is provided in a substantially flat configuration, and wherein positioning the inner surface of the access device against the outer surface of the body structure comprises wrapping the access device at least partially around the body structure.

21. A method for implanting a vascular access device into a patient's body for performing hemodialysis, comprising:

exposing one or more blood vessels within the patient's body; and

attaching opposite ends of a tubular graft to ends of the one or more blood vessels, the tubular graft defining a longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends and comprising an access device on a sidewall thereof extending partially between the opposite ends along the longitudinal axis, the access device defining a first end, a second end, and a continuous wall extending around an outer surface of the tubular graft and between the first and second ends of the access device formed from elastomeric base material including inner and outer surfaces extending between the first and second ends, the access device comprising a plurality of elastic elements embedded in the base material, the elastic elements separable laterally within the base material to accommodate creating an opening through the base material when an instrument is introduced through the base material, and biased to return laterally towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the instrument.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the elastic elements comprise a plurality of bands embedded in the base material, each band extending between the first and second ends of the access device.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the bands extend helically around a periphery of the access device.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the graft includes a coupler on a first end of the graft for coupling the first end to one of the one or more blood vessels.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein attaching the tubular graft comprises forming suture based anastomotic junctions to connect ends of the tubular graft to the ends of the one or more blood vessels.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein exposed surfaces of the access device are covered with synthetic fabric or porous material.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more blood vessels comprise a vein and an artery, and wherein one of the first and second ends is attached to the vein and the other of the first and second ends is attached to the artery.