System and method for facilitating hemostasis of blood vessel punctures with absorbable sponge

Abstract

A system for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture site in a blood vessel injects an absorbable sponge pledget in a hydrated state to a position at an exterior of the blood vessel puncture to facilitate hemostasis. The system includes a tract dilator for locating the puncture, an introducer, and a pusher. The introducer includes a staging chamber for receiving the absorbent sponge pledget and a delivery chamber having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the staging chamber into which a hydrated pledget passes. The pledget is hydrated and compressed within the introducer and then ejected with the pusher to the delivery site to facilitate hemostasis of the blood vessel puncture. The system delivers the absorbable sponge pledget over a guidewire to ensure the proper positioning of the pledget over the puncture. The implanted absorbable sponge once delivered expands rapidly to fill the target site and is absorbed by the body over time.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A method for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture in the wall of a blood vessel using a sheath positioned in a tissue tract for an intravascular procedure, the method comprising:
 maintaining the sheath within the blood vessel puncture of a patient after the intravascular procedure;   withdrawing the sheath proximally along the tissue tract until a distal tip of the sheath is outside of the blood vessel;   loading a sponge pledget into the sheath until a distal end of the pledget is positioned at a location corresponding to an outside wall of the blood vessel puncture; and   withdrawing the sheath to deposit the pledget adjacent the blood vessel puncture to facilitate hemostasis.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pledget is inserted directly into the sheath and is held in place by a plunger. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pledget is loaded into the sheath by inserting an introducer containing the pledget into the sheath. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the positioning of the sheath is confirmed by imaging a marker on the sheath. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the withdrawing step further includes withdrawing the sheath over the plunger to deposit the pledget adjacent the blood vessel to facilitate hemostasis. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein inserting the introducer into the sheath includes securing the introducer to the sheath. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sheath includes a proximal vent used to position the pledget at a proper position within the sheath. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the pusher holds the pledget in place as the sheath is withdrawn. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the positioning of the sheath is confirmed by imaging the introducer. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the positioning of the sheath is confirmed by imaging the pledget. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the introducer includes a plunger disposed therein. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the withdrawing step further includes holding the pledget in place with the plunger as the sheath and the introducer are withdrawn from the puncture site. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the introducer includes a plunger disposed therein. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the withdrawing step further includes holding the pledget in place with the plunger as the sheath and the introducer are withdrawn from the puncture site.