Suturing device and method for sealing an opening in a blood vessel or other biological structure

Abstract

A suturing device allows a physician to remotely seal an incision in a blood vessel or other biological tissue. The device comprises an elongated tubular body having a distal portion which is adapted to be inserted percutaneously through the incision and into the blood vessel. The distal portion has first and second retractable arms which extend from the distal portion of the body and releasably hold a suture within the blood vessel. First and second retractable needles, each of which is configured to catch the suture from a respective arm, are provided along the body proximal to the retractable arms. The arms and the needles are remotely movable by the physician using a handle or other control mechanism provided at a distal portion of the device. In operation, the arms are initially deployed within the blood vessel to hold the ends of the suture beyond the circumference of the tubular body. The needles are then deployed from and then retracted into the body, during which time the needles pierce the vessel wall on opposite sides of the incision, release the suture ends from the retractable arms, and pull the suture through the vessel wall. The device is particularly useful for closing an incision in an artery following a catheterization procedure. In one embodiment, the catheter sheath introducer (CSI) used to perform the catheterization procedure is left in place during the suturing procedure.

1 . A method for suturing a hole in a vessel wall of a patient, comprising: 
 introducing at least one suture into the vessel of the patient through a hole in the vessel wall, said suture having a first end and a second end;    piercing the vessel wall at a plurality of points near the hole in the vessel wall with a plurality of needles;    snatching said first end of said suture and said second end of said suture with a respective said needle; and    withdrawing said first end and said second end of said suture through a respective said point in the vessel wall with said needles.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising introducing the at least one suture into the vessel through an introducer sheath.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suture is introduced into the vessel with a placement catheter.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the placement catheter comprises a suture carrier holding said suture ends, and further comprising moving the suture carrier from an arrangement within the placement catheter to an arrangement extending radially outwardly from the placement catheter.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the suture carrier comprises two suture holders pivoting about a centralized hinge.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the suture carrier is of a unitary construction.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the needles are hooked.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tying the suture ends extrcorporeally to draw the hole closed.