Aortic closure system and related methods

1. An aortic closure device, comprising:

a deployment assembly configured to be inserted in a puncture in an aorta;

a tamper carried by the deployment assembly, the tamper having:

a tamper channel that extends therethrough,

an outer surface,

at least one first cut at a distal end of the tamper and that extends from the outer surface toward the tamper channel, and

at least one second cut at the distal end of the tamper opposite the first cut and that extends from the outer surface toward the tamper channel, wherein the at least one first cut and the least one second cut are configured to permit the distal end of the tamper to flex;

a sealing element captured by the deployment assembly;

a suture assembly that extends through the tamper channel such that the tamper is movable along the suture assembly, the suture assembly being releasably coupled to the sealing element; and

an actuator coupled to the deployment assembly, the actuator having a) a first actuation phase that causes the deployment assembly to release the sealing element therefrom while remaining coupled to the suture assembly, b) a second actuation phase that causes the tamper to move in a distal direction toward contact with the sealing element, and c) a third actuation phase that causes the tamper to move in a proximal direction that is opposite the distal direction to release the suture assembly from the sealing element.

2. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment assembly includes a release component that is elongate along a longitudinal direction, and a delivery component that is movable relative to the release component along the longitudinal direction, wherein the sealing element is captured by at least one of the release component and the delivery component.

3. The aortic closure device of claim 2 , wherein the first actuation phase causes at least one of the release component and the delivery component to move in a distal direction that is aligned with the longitudinal direction to release the sealing element from the at least one of the release component and the delivery component.

4. The aortic closure device of claim 2 , the actuator further comprises a gear assembly that engages a first track of the release component and a second track of the tamper, wherein actuation of the actuator in a first direction causes the first track to move and actuation of the actuator in a second direction causes the second track to move.

5. The aortic closure device of claim 4 , wherein the gear assembly includes a first gear and a second gear separated by a suture track, wherein the suture assembly extends along the suture track.

6. The aortic closure device of claim 2 , wherein actuation of the actuator in the a direction causes the release component to translate along the longitudinal direction and actuation of the actuator in a second direction causes the tamper to translate along the longitudinal direction.

7. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the suture assembly has a first portion releasably coupled to a second portion that is attached to the sealing element, wherein the third actuation phase causes the tamper to move in the proximal direction to release the sealing element from the first portion of suture assembly.

8. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioner configured to control tension during actuation of the actuator.

9. The aortic closure device of claim 8 , wherein the tensioner includes a tensioner housing, a drag member configured to apply a frictional force to the suture assembly, and a spring coupled to the drag member and configured to maintain the suture assembly in tension after actuation of the actuator.

10. The aortic closure device of claim 9 , wherein the deployment assembly comprises a release tube, the tensioner is positioned in the proximal direction relative to the release tube and receives the suture assembly such that the suture assembly passes through the tensioner housing, the drag member, and the spring.

11. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a knob, a lever, or one or more linear slides.

12. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment assembly comprises a release tube, the release tube has a release tube body that is elongate along the longitudinal direction, the release tube body defining a distal end, a proximal end, and a release tube channel that extends from the distal end of the release tube toward the proximal end of the release tube along the longitudinal direction.

13. The aortic closure device of claim 12 , wherein the deployment assembly comprises a delivery tube, the delivery tube is disposed within the release tube channel, the delivery tube including a delivery tube body, and a delivery tube channel that extends through the delivery tube body along the longitudinal direction.

14. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment assembly comprises a tamper tube, the tamper tube defines a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end along the longitudinal direction.

15. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein movement of the tamper in the distal direction against the sealing element places the suture in tension and urges the sealing element against a distal end of the deployment assembly such that the sealing element is oriented in a sealing position.

16. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is rotatable about an actuator axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

17. The aortic closure device of claim 1 , wherein the suture assembly includes a releasable splice disposed in the tamper, wherein in the third actuation phase, the tamper retracts and causes the release of the releasable splice, thereby releasing the sealing element.