Patent ID: 6203554
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A puncture site closure apparatus for placing sutures in anatomical tissue adjacent an opening in the anatomical tissue through which a portal sleeve extends comprisinga collar for being disposed on the portal sleeve and having a central longitudinal axis and a cavity for receiving a portal sleeve to extend longitudinally through said collar; anda pair of guide members disposed on opposite sides of said collar, each of said guide members having upper and lower open ends and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said collar being longitudinally movable relative to and along the portal sleeve to move said lower ends of said guide members a selected depth into an opening in anatomical tissue through which the portal sleeve extends, each of said lumens being adapted to removably, slidably receive a hollow penetrating member therethrough such that the penetrating member is guided by said guide members, respectively, to enter the anatomical tissue at entry points, respectively, located the selected depth in the anatomical tissue and to exit the anatomical tissue at exit points, respectively, on the anatomical tissue such that first and second lengths of suture material can be passed through the penetrating member and said guide members, respectively, to extend through a thickness portion of the anatomical tissue between the entry points and the exit points, respectively, on opposite sides of the opening, the first and second lengths of suture material remaining in the thickness portion of the tissue, following removal of the penetrating member therefrom, for use in suturing the opening closed following removal of the portal sleeve from the opening.