VASCULAR LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

Disclosed are puncture sealing systems and methods of locating a puncture site within a vessel. The systems can include puncture locating dilators and access sheaths that are configured to locate the puncture site within a vessel so that the position of the puncture site relative to a distal end of the access sheath is known during a puncture sealing procedure.

主权项

1. A method of locating a puncture site in a vessel of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a guide wire through the puncture site and into the vessel such that a portion of the guide wire protrudes from the vessel; inserting a proximal end of the guide wire into a distal end of a dilator, the dilator having an inlet hole, an outlet hole in fluid communication with the inlet hole, and a radiopaque marker proximate to the inlet hole; moving the dilator along the guide wire until the distal end of the dilator and the inlet hole enter the vessel such that blood flows into the inlet hole and out the outlet hole to thereby locate a position of the puncture site; after the position of the puncture site has been located, determining a position of the radiopaque marker of the dilator on an imaging device; and positioning an external marker on the patient that corresponds with the position of the radiopaque marker of the dilator determined on the imaging device to thereby provide a visual indication of the puncture site location after the dilator is removed from the guide wire.