Biodegradable adhesive film for vascular closure

1. A device for sealing an opening in a vessel wall, comprising:

an elongate, tubular non-stick outer sheath, the non-stick outer sheath having a distal end that is insertable into a vessel of a patient through the opening in the vessel wall, and having a proximal end remaining outside the patient;

an elongate, tubular non-stick inner sheath disposed within the non-stick outer sheath; and

an elongate, tubular adhesive film disposed between the non-stick outer sheath and the non-stick inner sheath, the adhesive film having both inward-facing and outward-facing adhesive surfaces and being supportable by the non-stick inner sheath during insertion into the vessel of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable balloon distally advanceable and proximally retractable within the non-stick inner sheath, the balloon capable of sequentially being in a pre-inflated state, an inflated state, and a post-inflated state.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein in the pre-inflated state, a distal end of the adhesive film extends into the vessel and extends beyond the distal end of the non-stick outer sheath, and the balloon extends distally beyond a distal end of the non-stick inner sheath and beyond the distal end of the adhesive film.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein in the inflated state, the balloon is inflated, and the distal end of the adhesive film is flared outward from a central axis of the non-stick inner sheath.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein in the inflated state, a proximal force applied to the balloon and to the non-stick inner sheath adheres the flared distal end of the adhesive film to an inner surface of the vessel wall surrounding the opening in the vessel wall.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein in the post-inflated state, the balloon is deflated and is withdrawn proximally from the vessel of the patient, the non-stick inner sheath is withdrawn proximally from the vessel of the patient, and the inward-facing adhesive surface of the adhesive film is stuck to itself to seal the opening in the vessel.

7. The device of claim 6 ,

wherein the inward-facing adhesive surface of the adhesive film is stuck to itself proximate a skin surface of the patient to form a seal; and

wherein the adhesive film is cut and removed proximal to the seal.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner and non-stick outer sheaths includes at least one mark that indicates a certain fixed length of sheath remaining in the patient.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner and non-stick outer sheaths includes at least one locating hole through which blood flows when the sheath extends too far distally into the vessel.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive film is impermeable to blood.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive film is biodegradable.

12. A device for sealing an opening in a vessel wall, comprising:

an elongate, tubular non-stick outer sheath, the non-stick outer sheath having a distal end that is insertable into a vessel of a patient through the opening in the vessel wall, and having a proximal end remaining outside the patient;

an elongate, tubular non-stick inner sheath disposed within the non-stick outer sheath;

an adhesive film disposed between the non-stick outer sheath and the non-stick inner sheath, the adhesive film having an outward-facing adhesive surface and being supportable by the non-stick inner sheath during insertion into the vessel of the patient; and

an inflatable balloon distally advanceable and proximally retractable within the non-stick inner sheath, the balloon capable of sequentially being in a pre-inflated state, then in an inflated state, then in a post-inflated state;

wherein in the pre-inflated state, a distal end of the adhesive film extends into the vessel and extends beyond the distal end of the non-stick outer sheath, and the balloon extends distally beyond a distal end of the non-stick inner sheath and beyond the distal end of the adhesive film;

wherein in the inflated state, the balloon is inflated, and the distal end of the adhesive film is flared outward from a central axis of the non-stick inner sheath;

wherein in the inflated state, a proximal force applied to the balloon and to the non-stick inner sheath adheres the flared distal end of the adhesive film to an inner surface of the vessel wall surrounding the opening in the vessel wall;

wherein in the post-inflated state, the balloon is deflated and is withdrawn proximally from the vessel of the patient, and the non-stick inner sheath is withdrawn proximally from the vessel of the patient.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein in the post-inflated state, the adhesive film is tied off outside the patient.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein in the post-inflated state, the adhesive film is sealed at the opening of the vessel wall.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein in the post-inflated state, the adhesive film is sealed exterior to the patient.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the inner and non-stick outer sheaths includes at least one mark that indicates a certain fixed length of sheath remaining in the patient.

17. The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the inner and non-stick outer sheaths includes at least one locating hole through which blood flows when the sheath extends too far distally into the vessel.

18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the adhesive film is impermeable to blood and is biodegradable.