VESSEL ACCESS AND CLOSURE ASSIST SYSTEM AND METHOD
A vessel access and closure assist system is used for accessing a vessel to perform a vascular intervention. The system facilitates the delivery of a vessel closure device onto a blood vessel for closing an opening in the wall of the blood vessel. The vessel access and closure assist system includes a procedural introducer sheath that directly couples to a vessel closure device delivery sheath such that the procedural introducer sheath does not have to be exchanged with the vessel closure device delivery sheath.
1 - 22 . (canceled)
23 . A blood vessel access and closure assist system, comprising:
a first sheath having an internal lumen for delivery of an interventional device into a blood vessel when the introducer sheath is inserted into an artery;
a vessel closure device delivery sheath, the vessel closure device delivery sheath having an internal lumen adapted to deliver a vessel closure device onto a blood vessel;
wherein the vessel closure device delivery sheath and the first sheath couple to one another to form a single assembly that can be inserted into an artery such that a distal end of the first sheath extends beyond a distal tip of the closure device delivery sheath when the two sheaths are coupled to one another.
24 . A system as in claim 23 , wherein the first sheath couples to the vessel closure device delivery sheath by being inserted into the internal lumen of the vessel closure device delivery sheath.
25 . A system as in claim 23 , wherein the first sheath includes a first hub and the vessel closure device delivery sheath includes a second hub, and wherein the first and second hubs couple to one another to immobilize the first sheath relative to the vessel closure device delivery sheath.
26 . A system as in claim 25 , wherein the first and second hubs couple to one another via a threaded connection.
27 . A system as in claim 25 , wherein the first and second hubs couple to one another via a snap fit.
28 . A system as in claim 23 , further comprising the vessel closure device and vessel closure device applier.
29 . A system as in claim 28 , wherein the vessel closure device applier includes a handle and an elongated delivery shaft, wherein the elongated delivery shaft inserts into the vessel closure device applier.
30 . A system as in claim 23 , wherein the vessel closure device applier includes a blade that can split the vessel closure device applier as a vessel closure device is delivered to the artery.
31 . A system as in claim 28 , wherein the vessel closure device is a vessel closure clip.
32 . A system as in claim 23 , further comprising a sheath dilator.
33 . A system as in claim 23 , further comprising an introducer guide wire.
34 . A system as in claim 23 , further comprising a package that contains the vessel closure device delivery sheath, the first sheath, a sheath dilator, and an introducer guide wire.
35 . A system as in claim 23 , further comprising the vessel closure device and applier.