Vascular closure device suture tension mechanism

Abstract

Systems and methods for sealing an opening in a wall within the body of a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system has an elongated body coupled to a vascular closure device and a resisting member, the elongated body having a high resistance portion and a low resistance portion and being constructed and arranged to interface with a resisting member to apply a conforming force to a vascular closure device. In some exemplary embodiments, the elongated body comprises a large diameter portion positioned in a proximal end region of the elongated body. Methods and other embodiments are disclosed.

1 . An apparatus coupled to a vascular closure device, the apparatus being constructed and arranged to interact with a resisting member comprising a grip portion to apply a force to the vascular closure device to substantially occlude a hole in a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a proximal end region, a distal end region, a high-resistance portion positioned adjacent to said proximal end region, and a low-resistance portion positioned adjacent to said distal end region;   wherein said distal end region is coupled to the vascular closure device;   wherein said elongated body is constructed and arranged to slidably couple with and contact the resisting member so as to cause a resistive force between said elongated body and the resisting member; and   wherein said high-resistance portion and said low-resistance portion are constructed and arranged such that the resistive force between said high-resistance portion and said resisting member is greater than the resistive force between said low-resistance portion and said resisting member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high-resistance portion is constructed and arranged to interface with the resisting member such that the resistance-resistive force is greater than a conforming force. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said low-resistance portion is constructed and arranged to interface with the resisting member such that the resistive force is greater than a conforming force. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said resisting member and said high-resistance portion are constructed and arranged such that the resistive force is less than a deforming force. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high-resistance portion defines a large diameter portion and said low-resistance portion defines a small diameter portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a taper on said elongated body.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shoulder on said elongated body.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high-resistance portion defines a plurality of large-diameter portions separated by small-diameter portions along a length of said elongated body. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stop member positioned at the proximal end region of said elongated body.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high-resistance portion comprises a surface that has an average surface roughness greater than that of said low-resistance portion. 
     
     
         11 . A system arranged to conform a vascular closure device over a hole in a vessel wall to occlude the hole, the system comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a proximal end region, a distal end region, a high-resistance portion positioned adjacent to said proximal end region, and a low-resistance portion positioned adjacent to said distal end region;   wherein said distal end region is coupled to the vascular closure device; and   a resisting member comprising a grip portion constructed and arranged to slidably couple with and to contact said elongated body thereby generating a resistive force that resists relative longitudinal movement between the elongated body and the resisting member;   wherein said high-resistance portion, said low-resistance portion, and said resisting member are constructed and arranged such that the resistive force between said high-resistance portion and said resisting member is greater than the resistive force between said low-resistance portion and said resisting member.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said resisting member comprises a sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said resisting member comprises a valve. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said resisting member comprises a channel arranged to receive said elongated body, wherein said channel changes directions along at least one axis. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said resisting member comprises a spring-loaded friction system comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a spring member biasing said first surface towards said second surface. 
     
     
         16 . A system arranged to conform a vascular closure device over a hole in a vessel wall to occlude the hole, the system comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a proximal end region and a distal end region;   said distal end region coupled to the vascular closure device; and   a resisting member comprising a grip portion and constructed and arranged to slidably couple with and contact said elongated body, wherein the grip portion is constructed and arranged for an operator to apply a force to;   wherein said elongated body and said resisting member are constructed and arranged to interface and to generate a resistive force that resists relative longitudinal movement between the elongated body and the resisting member;   wherein said elongated body and said resisting member are constructed and arranged to generate a maximum static resistive force during a non-sliding condition and a maximum dynamic resistive force during a sliding condition; and   wherein the maximum static resistive force is greater than a conforming force sufficient to occlude the hole and is less than a deforming force of the vascular closure device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum dynamic resistive force is greater than a conforming force sufficient to occlude the hole. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum dynamic resistive force is less than a deforming force of the vascular closure device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated body and said resisting member are constructed and arranged to interface such that the maximum resistive force is variable. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated body and said resisting member are constructed and arranged to interface such that the maximum dynamic resistive force is variable.