APPARATUS FOR CLOSING TISSUE PUNCTURES

摘要

Apparatus (10) for closing a puncture P in a wall of a vessel V includes an introducer sheath (12) and a housing (16) slidably disposed on an exterior surface of the sheath (12). A clip (62) is releasably disposed within a chamber of the housing (16), the clip (62) being expandable from a deployed configuration wherein tissue engaging portions of the clip (62) are directed inwards towards one another, and an expanded delivery configuration. An actuator (18) is attached to the housing (16) for deploying the clip (16) from the chamber. The clip (62) is preferably biased to the deployed configuration, and may be bioabsorbable. The housing (16) is advanced along the sheath (12) until the clip (62) pierces tissue surrounding a puncture P. The sheath (12) is withdrawn, causing the clip (62) to resiliently return to its deployed configuration and draw tissue together to close the puncture P.