Bioresorbable tip with low force release and mothods

Abstract

A vascular closure system includes an expandable anchor, a sealing material, a sealing tip, and a sealing tip release member. The expandable anchor is temporarily positioned through a vessel puncture within a vessel. The sealing material is positioned outside of the vessel and configured to seal the vessel puncture. The sealing tip is positioned distal of the anchor and releasable within the sealing material upon removal of the anchor and sealing tip through the sealing material. The sealing tip release member is operable to release the sealing tip without application of a tactile force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of closing a vascular opening in a wall of a vessel, comprising:
 providing a vascular closure device having an anchor member, a sealing material, a sealing tip, and a release member;   advancing the anchor member and sealing tip through the vascular opening;   expanding the anchor and contacting the anchor against an inner surface of the vessel adjacent to the vascular opening;   positioning the sealing material against an outer surface of the vessel adjacent to the vascular opening;   withdrawing the anchor through the vascular opening and sealing material;   positioning the sealing tip in the sealing material;   operating the release member to release the sealing tip within the sealing material without application of a tensile force.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the release member includes a filament that wraps around a portion of the sealing tip, and operating the release member includes unwrapping the filament from the portion of the sealing tip. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the sealing tip further comprises a tip securement member, and applying tension in the filament expands the tip securement member within the sealing material. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing tip further comprises a tip securement member that extends radially outward from the sealing tip, and the method further comprises anchoring the tip securement member in the sealing material prior to operating the release. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the tip securement member includes at least three expandable members extend radially outward upon operating the release member. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the anchor is an inflatable balloon that is inflated through an inflation lumen, and the release member extends through the inflation lumen. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the release member extends into an interior of the sealing tip, and operating the release member includes removing the release member from within the sealing tip.