Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A closure device (22) for sealing a percutaneous puncture (24) in the wall of a blood vessel, the puncture being an opening in the wall of the blood vessel and a tract contiguous with the opening and extending through tissue overlying the vessel, said closure device (22) comprising resorbable anchoring means, (32) resorbable sealing means (30), filament means (34) having a longitudinal axis, and locking means (138,142), said anchoring means (32) being adapted to be brought into engagement with interior tissue of the vessel contiguous with the opening for anchoring therein and with said sealing means (30) being configured to enable said sealing means (30) to be located within the tract remote from the vessel, said filament means (34) including a portion connected to said sealing means (30) and extending along a portion thereof so as to be passable through the tract to said anchoring means (32) and being coupled to said anchoring means (32) in such a manner that said sealing means (30) may be movable in the tract toward said anchoring means (32) to a puncture sealing position, whereupon said portion of said filament means (34) is placed in tension and said anchoring means (32) is adapted to be in engagement with the interior tissue of the vessel contiguous with the opening, said locking means (138,142) engaging said filament means (34) to hold said sealing means (30) whereby when in the puncture sealing position it can prevent said sealing means (30) from moving away from said anchoring means (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The closure device of Claim 1, wherein said locking means (138,142) comprises a member temporarily slidably mounted on said filament means (34) and being arranged to be operated by other means to maintain the tension in said portion of said filament means (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The closure device of Claim 2, wherein said locking member (138,142) is operated by the application of a force applied thereto parallel to the longitudinal axis of said filament means (34).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A closure device according to Claim 1,2 or 3, characterised in that it includes tamping means (130) having a portion to engage the sealing means (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A closure device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the tamping means (130) is slidable along the filament means (34) to contact and deform at least a portion of the closure device (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A closure device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in tha t the portion of the tamping means (130) to engage the sealing means (30) is formed of a resorbable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A closure device according to Claim 6, characterised in that said resorbable portion of the tamping means (130) has a distal end (134), a proximal end (136) and a longitudinal passageway (132), said filament means (34) extending through said passageway, said distal end being arranged to engage said sealing means (30) to deform said sealing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A closure device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the proximal end (136) of the tamping means (130) is engaged by the locking means (142).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A closure device according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the locking means comprises a stainless steel tube (138) through which the filament means (34) can pass and a torsion spring (142) mounted on the filament means (34).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A closure device according to any one of Claims 4 to 8 and 9, characterised in that the torsion spring (142) has a pair of legs (142A,142B) projecting outwardly from a helical central section (142C), each leg including a slot (142D) at its free end, one slot being to receive the filament (34) therein and to engage the tube (138) and the other slot being to receive the filament (34) therein and to engage the proximal end of the tamping means (130).