APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERCUTANEOUS SEALING OF BLOOD VESSEL PUNCTURES

Abstract: A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel puncture is employed with an introducer that accesses the puncture through an incision. The introducer has an open distal end positionable at the puncture, an external portion with an open proximal end, and an axial channel therebetween. The device includes a hollow catheter, dimensioned to pass through the introducer channel, having a distal end to which is attached an expansible compression element, which may be an inflatable balloon, a collapsible prong assembly, or a resilient foam pad. Pressure is applied to the compression element through the introducer to promote hemostasis by the compression of subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture. The device preferably includes a locator member passing through the catheter and into the blood vessel through the puncture. The locator member may be either a guide wire, or a hollow tube with a locating balloon, disposed near the portion of the tube insertable into the vessel.

Description: APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERCUTANEOUS SEALING OF BLOOD VESSEL PUNCTURES Background of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of apparatus and methods for sealing wounds in the blood vessels of humans or animals. More specifically, the invention relates to a guided vascular compression device for percutaneously sealing arterial or venous punctures subsequent to surgical procedures, by promoting in situ hemostasis. A large number of medical therapeutic and diagnostic procedures involve the percutaneous introduction of instrumentation into a vein or artery. For example, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), most often involving access to the femoral artery, is performed hundreds of thousands of times annually, and the number of other such vessel-piercing procedures performed, e.g., percutaneous coronary angiography and atherectomy, has exceeded two million per year. In each event, the closing and subsequent healing of the resultant vascular puncture is critical to the successful completion of the procedure. Traditionally, the application of external pressure to the skin entry site by a nurse or physician has been employed to stem bleeding from the wound until clotting and tissue rebuilding have sealed the perforation. In some situations, this pressure must be maintained for half an hour to an hour or more, during which the patient is uncomfortably immobilized, often with sandbags and the like. With externally applied manual pressure, both patient comfort and practitioner efficiency are impaired. Additionally, a risk of hematoma exists since bleeding from the vessel may continue until sufficient clotting effects hemostasis. Also, external pressure devices, such as femoral compression systems, may be unsuitable for patients with substantial amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue, since the skin surface may be a considerable distance from the vascular puncture site, thereby rendering skin compression inaccurate and thus less effective. More recently, devices have been proposed to promote hemostasis directly at the site of the vascular perforation. One class of such puncture sealing devices features intraluminal plugs, as disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,852,568 - Kensey; 4,890,612 - Kensey; 5,021,059 - Kensey et al.; and 5,061,774 - Kensey. This class of device is characterized by the placement of an object within the bloodstream of the vessel to close the puncture. Another approach to subcutaneous puncture closure involves delivery of tissue adhesives to the perforation site, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,383,899 - Hammerslag. Some likelihood exists of introducing the adhesive so employed disadvantageously into the bloodstream. U.S. Patent No. 4,929,246 - Sinofsky discloses the concept of applying pressure directly to an artery, and relies on the directing of laser energy through an optical fiber to cauterize the wound. Yet another proposed solution to obviate the reliance on skin surface pressure is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,275,616 - Fowler, wherein a cylindrical plug is inserted along the shaft of a catheter segment extending from the skin surface to the blood vessel. The catheter is then removed so that the plug can expand as fluid is drawn into the plug from the vessel and surrounding tissue. Unless pressure is applied, however, bleeding may occur around the plug into the subcutaneous tissue. Another approach that similarly deposits a plug into the tissue channel is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,391,183 - Janzen et al., which discloses a variety of plug delivery devices including threaded plug pushers and multilegged channels. As in the other disclosed methods for introducing a foreign plug into the incision, the Janzen et al. plug material, generally resorbable, is not removed from the patient once installed. Such permanent placement of foreign material into the body may result in inflammation or scar formation in the long term. Furthermore, many of the prior art devices rely on tactile sensation alone to indicate to the surgeon the proper placement of the puncture closing instrumentation, and may require upstream clamping of the blood vessel to reduce intraluminal pressure to atmospheric at the puncture site. As the foregoing description of the prior art demonstrates, none of the heretofore proposed solutions fulfills the need for a relatively simple, non-cautery apparatus and method for subcutaneously applying pressure directly to the vicinity of the vessel puncture by means of a pressure element that is removed from the patient once sealing of the puncture is achieved. There is a further need for a puncture sealing system that features use of instruments already in place at the access site so that the position for possible reentry is not lost, and the time required for the physician to change instrumentation is minimized. There is a still further need for a system that maintains pressure on the puncture site by lightweight mechanical means, thereby relieving the patient from the discomfort of external compression means, and freeing hospital personnel from constant surveillance of cumbersome external pressure structures for the duration of the hemostasis. There is also a need for a hemostatic device that can be effectively employed regardless of the thickness of the tissue between the skin and the puncture site, by applying localized pressure close to the puncture site, rather than remote, diffused pressure to the skin surface. Summary of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for sealing post-surgical vascular punctures that overcome the foregoing deficiencies. It is a further object to apply pressure directly to the vicinity of the vascular puncture access site utilizing a subcutaneous pressure element that is removed permanently from the patient once hemostasis is achieved. It is another object to employ an introducer instrument already in place at the access site to minimize instrumentation changing time, and to maintain access during an initial clotting period to facilitate possible reentry. It is yet another object to maintain adequate hemostatic pressure on an adipose or fatty tissue layer above the puncture site in order to close the puncture naturally, to reduce the potential for pseudo-aneurysm formation, and to maintain such pressure by lightweight, non-labor intensive, mechanical means, thereby reducing patient discomfort. The present invention involves a method for sealing a puncture site in a blood vessel, and apparatus for performing that method, wherein use is made of an introducer sheath (commonly referred to in the medical community as an "introducer") which is usually already in place inside the puncture site when a medical practitioner has completed a procedure that requires intravascular access. Locator means, preferably either a locator tube (having an inflatable locating balloon), or a standard guidewire, is passed through the introducer and into the lumen of the vessel. A semi-rigid catheter, including an expandable compression element at its distal end, and either two axial lumens (used in a compression balloon embodiment) or a single axial lumen (used in other embodiments), is inserted along the locator means fully into the introducer so that the expandable compression element at the distal end of the catheter is contained in an unexpanded state within the distal end of the introducer when the introducer is in a first or distal position relative to the catheter. The introducer and the catheter are partially withdrawn together (moved proximally) from the puncture site until a preferred location above the vessel is achieved, the relative axial positions of the introducer and the catheter remaining unchanged, so that the introducer remains in its first or distal position relative to the catheter. This location is chosen to provide for a layer of fatty tissue above the puncture site between the compression element and the vessel. The extent of partial withdrawal is determined by the tactile sense of the practitioner, aided by a marker on a locator tube for the embodiment employing a locating balloon as the locator means, or by fluoroscopic viewing of a contrast medium, for the embodiment employing a guidewire as the locating means. When the location is achieved, the introducer is moved to a second or proximal position relative to the catheter until the expandable compression element is revealed and expanded to bear on the fatty tissue layer. In another embodiment, the expandable compression element comprises an expandable prong assembly including a resilient spanning sheet for compressing the fatty tissue layer. In still another embodiment, the expandable compression element comprises a foam pad element bearing directly on the fatty tissue layer upon expansion when deployed from the introducer. Once the compression element (balloon, prongs or foam tip) is in place, a lightweight holding arrangement is employed to maintain hemostatic pressure. The holding arrangement comprises an adhesive skin patch and fastener strips or bands bringing downward pressure on a sheath cuff clamped to the introducer. After an initial period of hemostasis, (approximately one to five minutes), the locator means (locator balloon tube or guidewire) is removed from the puncture and the apparatus. After another five to twenty-five minutes of pressure on the puncture, the expandable distal end element (compression balloon, prongs or foam) is collapsed, and the introducer and catheter are permanently removed from the patient. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the Detailed Description that follows. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. IA is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the initial position in a puncture site of the distal portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. IB is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the apparatus of Fig. IA in a preferred operational position; Fig. IC is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the apparatus of Fig. IA with the compression balloon revealed and not yet inflated; Fig. ID is a cross sectional view taken along lines ID- ID of Fig. 1, illustrating the dual lumen configuration of a catheter element of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the compression mechanism of this embodiment in a retracted state near a vascular puncture site; Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 2, showing the compression mechanism in an expanded state; Fig. 2B is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing the compression mechanism deployed, in its expanded state, at a vascular puncture site; Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the compression mechanism of this embodiment in a retracted state near a vascular puncture site; Fig. 3A is a view, similar to that of Fig. 3, illustrating the compression mechanism in an expanded state; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4A is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the initial position in a puncture site of the introducer and guidewire elements of the apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 4B is a view similar to that of Fig. 4A, but showing a a catheter contained within introducer when the introducer is in a first axial position relative to the catheter; Fig. 4C is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the apparatus of Fig. 4A in a preferred operational position; Fig. 4D is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the apparatus of Fig. 4A with the compression balloon revealed and not yet inflated, the introducer having been moved to a second axial position relative to the catheter; Fig. 4E is a perspective view, partially in cross section, illustrating the compression balloon of the apparatus of Fig. 4D in an inflated state; Fig. 4F is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating the apparatus of Fig. 4E with the guidewire element withdrawn; and Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating a modification of the embodiment of Fig.l. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 1. Structure of the Apparatus A percutaneous blood vessel sealing device, or percutaneous hemostatic device 10, which applies hemostatic sealing pressure directly to tissue adjacent a vascular puncture site, without employing implanted materials, is shown in Fig. 1. In each exemplary embodiment described herein, an introducer sheath ("introducer") 12, well known in the art, is present in an incision 14 that extends from the skin surface 16 to a blood vessel (artery or vein) 18 of a patient at the site of a blood vessel puncture 20. The introducer 12 has normally been inserted previously to provide access to the vessel 18 for instrumentation (not shown) used in performing a vascular procedure immediately preceding the need to seal the puncture 20. The initial position of an introducer 12 so inserted is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4A, which shows a tapered distal end 22 of the introducer 12 at a puncture site 24, inserted within a vascular puncture 20. Typically, the introducer 12 will have a size of approximately 7 French (2.3 mm in diameter), and a length of approximately 130 mm, although a size as large as 14 French (4.7 mm in diameter) may be used for larger punctures. A working channel 26, best seen in Fig. ID, extends axially from the proximal end 28 of the introducer 12 through its tapered distal end 22. In the first preferred embodiment of Figures 1 through ID, a hollow locator tube 30 extends coaxially through the introducer 12 and into the vessel 18 through the puncture 20. Guided by the locator tube 30 into the introducer working channel 26 is a semi-rigid catheter 32 having a catheter proximal end 33, and a catheter distal end 34 (Fig. IA). The introducer 12 is movable axially with respect to the catheter 32, and is disposed initially at a first axial position, or distal position, in which the catheter distal end 34 is enclosed or sheathed within the distal end 22 of the introducer 12. The catheter 32 is a dual-lumen device having a first axial lumen 36 (Fig. ID) which encompasses the locator tube 30 when the catheter 32 is inserted into the working channel 26 of the introducer 12. A second axial lumen 38 is provided with an inflation orifice 40 near its distal end, the inflation orifice communicating with the interior of a compression balloon 42 that concentrically surrounds a portion of the length of the catheter 32 extending proximally from its distal end 34. The compression balloon 42 is initially enclosed, in an uninflated state, within the distal end 22 of the introducer 12, as illustrated in Fig. IA. The opposite (proximal) end of the second axial lumen 38 communicates with a compression balloon inflation port 44 through an inflation tube 45, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Overall, the catheter 32 has an outer diameter sufficiently small to be freely insertable into the introducer 12, and a length that is greater than that of the introducer 12, i.e., in the range of about 130 mm to about 750 mm. At the proximal end 28 of the introducer 12 is a well-known luer type lock fitting 46 configured to mate with a catheter proximal end luer fitting 48 when the introducer 12 and the catheter 32 are in a final operational position, as determined by manipulation of the locator tube 30, as will be described below. The locator tube 30 has an inflatable intravascular locating balloon 50 at its distal end portion, shown in Fig. IA in an uninflated state. The interior of the locating balloon 50 is in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the locator tube 30 through a suitable inflation orifice (not shown), as is well known in conventional balloon catheters and the like. Although the luer locks 46, 48 may be employed for both the locator balloon embodiment (Figures 1 through ID) and for embodiments (described below) featuring expandable compression elements other than the compression balloon 42, a version using no luer locks will be described below that is specifically adapted for use with the compression balloon 42. Both the luer and non-luer versions are suitable for embodiments employing either the inflatable locating balloon 50 or a guidewire locating means, to be described below. Returning now to Figures IA through IC, a progression of locating positions for the device 10 is illustrated. Figure IA shows the locator tube 30, having the uninflated locating balloon 50 near its distal end, inserted into the vessel 18 through the introducer 12 and the vascular puncture 20. It is advantageous to construct the locator tube 30 so that a length of tube extends distally beyond the location of the locating balloon 50 into the vessel 18 to facilitate re-access through the vascular puncture 20, if required. The entire apparatus 10 (including the introducer 12 and the catheter 32) is in its initial position relative to the vessel; that is, the distal tip 22 of the introducer 12 is located adjacent to or within the puncture 20, while the introducer 12 is in its above-described first axial position or distal position relative to the catheter 32, in which the catheter distal end 34 and the uninflated compression balloon 42 are enclosed within the distal end 22 of the introducer 12. Figure IB illustrates the device 10 after the locating balloon 50 has been inflated by fluid introduced into it via the locator tube 30. The entire device 10 (including the introducer 12 and the catheter 32) has been partially withdrawn from the puncture site 24 in the direction of the arrow 52 (i.e., in the proximal direction), to a "preferred operational position", in which the locating balloon 50 is lodged against an interior wall 54 of the vessel 18. The introducer 12 remains in its first or distal position, in which the portion of the catheter 32 carrying the uninflated compression balloon 42 is enclosed within the distal end 22 of the introducer 12. In Figure IC, the introducer 12 has been moved axially, relative to the catheter 32, in the direction of the arrow 52 (i.e., proximally), to its second axial position, or proximal position. The movement of the introducer 12 to this second or proximal position uncovers the uninflated compression balloon 42. The compression stage of the device 10 is illustrated next in Fig. 1. The compression balloon 42, inflated via the second axial lumen 38 (Fig. ID), rests in an optimal position to effect natural hemostasis, viz., above a laminar portion 56 of the fatty tissue adjacent the puncture site 24. An optimal distance from the vessel 18 to the catheter distal end 34 is in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm. This distance will dispose a layer of fatty tissue 56 between the vessel 18 and the catheter 32, minimizing the potential for pseudo-aneurysm. The introducer luer lock 46 is shown engaged with the catheter luer lock 48, assuring that a holding force applied to the introducer 12 will be transmitted as well to the catheter 32. In addition, a visible marker band 57 on the exterior of the locating tubing 30 may advantageously be provided to align the proximal ends of the introducer 12 and the catheter 32 in correspondence with the location of the distal ends 22, 34 thereof when the locator balloon 50 is lodged against the inner wall 54 of vessel 18. An adhesive skin patch 58 with a sheath cuff 60 clamped onto the external portion of the introducer 12 to apply downward force (in the direction of the arrow 62, i.e., distally) on the introducer 12 is shown in Figures 1 and 4. Fastener strips 64 secure the adhesive patch 58 to the sheath cuff 60. The fastener strips 64 may be elastic bands with suitable adhesive areas, or hook and loop strips (such as the type marketed under the trademark VELCRO) that adhere to areas of complementary material on the patch 58. Pressure maintained by the introducer sheath cuff 60 on the catheter 32 provides hemostatic pressure on the compression balloon 42 to bear on the tissue layer 56 for a first period of time, whereupon the locating tube 30 is withdrawn (the locator balloon 50 having first been deflated), and a second period of time elapses, after which all instrumentation is removed from the patient as will be noted when the method for sealing the puncture 20 is described in detail below. Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 2, 2A, and 2B, which show a collapsible prong assembly compression element 66 attached to the catheter distal end 34. The prong assembly 66 is radially compressed or collapsed when enclosed within the introducer 12, when the introducer is in its first or distal position. The prong assembly 66 expands radially when the introducer 12 is partially withdrawn from the vessel 18 (Figures 2A and 2B), by moving the introducer 12 to its second or proximal position in a manner similar to the partial withdrawal of introducer 12 in the direction of arrow 52 as described previously in connection with the compression balloon embodiment. The prong assembly 66 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart resilient prongs 68, the proximal ends of which are attached to the catheter 32, and the distal ends of which are attached to a collapsible spanning film sheet or dam 70, shown expanded in Figures 2A and 2B. The sheet or dam 70 allows the application of hemostatic pressure on the tissue 56 above the vessel 18. A central aperture 72 in the sheet or dam 70 permits the locator tube (not shown) to project through the catheter 32 into the vessel 18 as described previously. Since there is no compression balloon to be inflated, a catheter with a single axial lumen J 36 is adequate for this application. Materials for the spanning sheet or 2 dam 70 may include polyurethane and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). 3 Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 3 and 3A, which show a foam pad compression element 74 attached to 5 the catheter distal end 34. The foam pad element 74 is compressed 6 when enclosed within the introducer 12 when the introducer is in its 7 first or distal position. The foam pad compression element 74 then 8 expands when the introducer 12 is partially withdrawn from the vessel 9 18, as shown in Fig. 3A, by moving the introducer 12 to its second or 10 proximal position, as described above with respect to the first and 11 second embodiments. Hemostatic pressure is similarly exerted on the 12 tissue 56 above the vessel 18. An axial channel 76 in the foam pad 74 13 permits the locator tube (not shown) to project through the catheter 32 14 into the vessel 18, as described previously. As with the expanding 15 prong embodiment above, since there is no compression balloon to be 16 inflated, a catheter with a single axial lumen 36 is adequate for this J 7 embodiment. Materials for the foam pad 74 may include various 18 polymeric foams, such as polyurethanes, as are well-known in the art. 19 The foam pad 74 may be impregnated with a coagulant such as 20 thrombin or protamine to effect local hemostasis. 21 The foregoing embodiments, featuring both the luer locking of 22 the introducer 12 with the catheter 32, and a variety of expandable 23 compression elements 42, 66, 74 at the catheter distal end 34, employ a 24 locator tube 30 with a locating balloon 50 to determine the optimal 25 operational location for the apparatus 10. In lieu of a locating balloon 26 50, a guidewire 78 may be utilized for the location determination of the 27 apparatus 10, as illustrated in Figures 4 through 4F. In Fig. 4A, a standard guidewire 78, typically 3 French (1 mm in diameter), shown coaxially located within the introducer 12, has a distal end 82 extending out of the introducer distal end 22 into the puncture 20 of the vessel 18. The catheter 32 is shown in Fig. 4B having been inserted into the introducer 12 and guided to the distal end 22 of the introducer by the guidewire 78. At the distal end 34 of the catheter 32 is a radiopaque marker 84 for viewing under fluoroscopy, as shown in Fig. 4D. Figure 4C shows an optimal location for catheter distal end 34, radiopaque contrast medium (not shown) having been introduced into the catheter lumen 36, and the apparatus 10 having been partially withdrawn from the vessel 18 in the direction of the arrow 52 (i.e., proximally). An extravasation 85 of the radiopaque contrast medium is shown marking the desired distance between the vessel 18 and the catheter distal end 34, as will be explained when the method for sealing the puncture is described below. The introducer 12 is shown in Fig. 4D having been moved, in the direction of the arrow 52, to its second or proximal position to reveal the uninflated compression balloon 42 in position for inflating. Figure 4E illustrates the apparatus 10 with the compression balloon 42 inflated and in place above the fatty layer 56 to apply hemostatic pressure for a first period of time in order to effect initial closure of puncture site 24. Figure 4F shows the apparatus 10 after the guidewire 78 has been removed from the apparatus 10 and pressure is applied for a second period of time to close the puncture 20. In analogous fashion, the guidewire 78 and radiopaque positioning of an expandable compression element at the distal end 34 of the catheter 32 may be employed with the prong assembly and foam pad embodiments described above in connection with the locator tube 30. For introducing the radiopaque or contrast medium (not shown) into the catheter lumen 36, a standard hemostatic "Y" 86 is used, as shown in Fig. 4. The "Y" 86 has a main leg 88 for receiving the guidewire 78 into the axial lumen 36 of the catheter 32, while a side port 90 of the "Y" 86 is used for introducing the contrast medium into the same lumen. A modification of the first (compression balloon) embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 5, where an apparatus 110 has an introducer 112 having no luer connection with a catheter 132. Since the cuff 60 applies downward force in the direction of the arrow 62 only to the introducer 112, and not to the catheter 132, the distal end 122 of the introducer 112 must bear directly on the compression balloon 42 to exert hemostatic pressure on the balloon 42. Although this modification is suitable only for the compression balloon embodiment of this invention, both the locator tube 30 and the guidewire 78 may be utilized in this modification for optimal positioning of the catheter distal end 34. 2. Method for Sealing Vascular Punctures A brief review of a typical vascular entry procedure may be of value in describing the puncture closure technique of the present invention. To initiate one of the common operations such as the PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) mentioned above, a piercing cannula is inserted into the skin of a patient at an angle of from 25 to 45 degrees until it punctures a blood vessel, e.g., the femoral artery. The vessel may be located one centimeter or more beneath the surface of the skin. A guidewire is inserted through the cannula into the vessel, the cannula is withdrawn, and a catheter introducer sheath is inserted over the guidewire into the puncture site. The practitioner then uses the introducer to gain access to the vascular lumen for the instrumentation used to perform the particular procedure. At the conclusion of the procedure, the introducer is the last device remaining in the puncture, which must then be sealed. The method of the present invention provides a rapid, permanent, inexpensive sealing of a puncture in a blood vessel, with no foreign implants remaining in the patient. The method can be understood with reference to the drawing figures and the previous description of the apparatus of this invention. In Fig. IA, an introducer sheath 12 is shown in a puncture site 24 at the conclusion of a vascular procedure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a locator tube 30 having an inflatable locating balloon 50 adjacent its distal end is inserted axially through the introducer 12, into a puncture 20 and extending the uninflated locating balloon 50 into the lumen of a vessel 18. A dual lumen catheter 32 is passed over the locator tube 30 so that a first lumen 36 (Fig. ID) of the catheter 32 receives the locator tube 30. The locator tube 30 maintains alignment of the catheter 32 with the puncture 20 and allows repeated access into the vessel 18, if necessary. The catheter 32, having an inflatable compression balloon 42 at its distal end 34, is inserted fully into the introducer 12 until its distal end 34, including the uninflated compression balloon 42, is at the distal end 22 of the introducer 12. At this stage, the locator tube 30 is pushed or pulled until a marker band 57 (shown in Fig. 1) is aligned with the proximal end 33 of the catheter 32. The marker band 57 is preselected to establish a fixed relationship with the catheter 32 so that a preferred distance may be maintained between the vessel 18 and the distal end 34 of catheter 32 as will be explained below. The introducer 12 being in its first or distal position, the uninflated compression balloon 42 is fully enclosed and contained within the working channel 26 of the introducer 12, as described above. The practitioner then inflates the locating balloon 50 via the locator tube 30, partially withdrawing the introducer 12, the catheter 32 and the locator tube 30 from the puncture 20 in the direction of the arrow 52, until the locating balloon 50 lodges against the inner wall of the vessel 18 at the puncture 20, as illustrated in Fig. IB. Since the position of the catheter distal end 34 relative to the introducer distal end 22 remains unchanged, the distal end 34 of the catheter is now at the location predetermined by the placement of the marker band 57, preferably about 5 mm to 15 mm from the puncture 20. This distance will allow a layer of fatty subcutaneous tissue 56 to lie between the catheter distal end 34 and the puncture 20. Once the catheter distal end 34 is in the desired location, the introducer 12 is further withdrawn in the direction of the arrow 52, by moving it to its second or proximal position relative to the catheter 32, as described above, to expose the uninflated compression balloon 42, as shown in Fig. IC. The luer fittings 46, 48 at the proximal ends of the catheter 32 and the introducer 12, respectively, are now connected to each other to lock the catheter 32 and the introducer 12 into a fixed position relative to one another, and the compression balloon 42 is then inflated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, via a second catheter lumen 38 (Fig. 1 ID). The compression balloon 42 is then pressed down against the 2 fatty layer 56 above the puncture site 24, while gentle traction is 3 maintained on the locating balloon 50, thus compressing the 4 extravascular fatty tissue 56 between the balloons 42, 50. The fatty 5 tissue 56 advantageously minimizes the potential of pseudo-aneurysm 6 formation and promotes efficient hemostasis. 7 To assist in maintaining pressure on the vessel 18, an introducer 8 cuff 60 is clamped onto the introducer 12 and secured to an adhesive 9 patch 58 by means of elastic or hook and loop fastening strips 64 (Figs. 10 1 and 4). When the introducer 12 is locked with the catheter 32 by the IJ luer fittings 46, 48, the downward force provided by the fastening strips J2 64 is transmitted from the introducer 12 through the semi-rigid catheter 13 32 to the compression balloon 42, maintaining hemostatic pressure on J4 the puncture site 24 through fatty tissue 56. 15 After a first period of time (approximately 5 to 15 minutes), J 6 initial clotting of the puncture 20 will have occurred. The locating J 7 balloon 50 is then deflated and the locator tube 30 withdrawn from the 18 apparatus 10, leaving only a small (e.g., approximately 1 mm in 19 diameter) portion of the original puncture 20 to clot. The compression 20 balloon 42 remains in place for an additional (second) period of time 2J (approximately 5 to 25 minutes), providing hemostasis to the puncture 22 20, after which the compression balloon 42 is deflated and retracted 23 proximally into the introducer 12, the luer fittings 46, 48 having first 24 been disconnected. The sealing process having been completed, the 25 apparatus 10 is completely removed from the patient. 6 The foregoing method uses an introducer 12 that is already 27 positioned at the access site so that position is not lost in changing J instruments, bleeding does not occur while devices are positioned, and 2 the locator tube 30 maintains the access location for re-access if needed 3 during the initial clotting of the puncture 20. Furthermore, 4 employment of the present invention requires minimal physician time 5 and greatly reduces staff time and involvement previously devoted to 6 maintaining supradermal pressure for long periods of hemostasis. In 7 addition, the need for operating room time may be reduced by the 8 removal of the locator tube 30, the introducer 12 and the catheter 32 9 after the patient is returned to the patient's room. Overall, patient J 0 discomfort is significantly lessened through the use of the foregoing JJ method as compared with the traditional manual external compression 2 techniques. 13 Similar steps are followed for implementing the method of the J 4 present invention with the second embodiment of the apparatus 15 described above. In the second embodiment, the compression element 16 at catheter distal end 34 comprises the collapsible prong assembly 66, as J 7 shown in Figures 2, 2A, and 2B. In this second embodiment, once the 18 introducer distal end 22 is in its initial (first or distal) position (about 5 19 to 15 mm from the vessel 18) as shown in Fig. 2, the movement of the 20 introducer 12 to its second or proximal position releases the prong 2J assembly 66 from confinement within the introducer 12, allowing the 22 individual prongs 68 of the prong assembly 66 to expand, as illustrated 23 in Fig. 2A. A resilient spanning sheet or dam 70, supported by the 24 ends of the prongs 68, then allows the application of hemostatic 25 pressure on the fatty tissue layer 56, as described earlier in connection 26 with the compression balloon embodiment. The locator tube (not 27 shown) passes through and is withdrawn from the aperture 72 in the J spanning film 70. 2 A third embodiment of the method, following steps substantially 3 identical to the above described procedures, involves the use of the 4 compressible foam pad 74 shown in Figs. 3 and 3A as the compression 5 element at the distal end 34 of the catheter 32. 6 In this third embodiment, when the catheter 32 is in the 7 preferred location as shown in Fig. 3, the introducer 12 is moved from 8 its first or distal position to its second or proximal position (in the 9 direction of the arrow 52) to uncover the foam pad 74, allowing it to 10 expand, as illustrated in Fig. 3A. The expanded foam pad 74 exerts JJ hemostatic pressure upon the fatty tissue layer 56, as described J2 previously. The locator tube (not shown) passes through and is 13 withdrawn from the pad channel 76 formed axially in the foam pad 74. J 4 If deemed desirable by the practitioner, a coagulant agent such as 15 collagen, thrombin or protamine may be delivered to the vicinity of the J 6 puncture site through the pad channel 76 which communicates with the J 7 catheter axial lumen 36. Alternatively, the foam pad 74 may be J 8 saturated with the agent prior to deployment. 19 The method employed with the apparatus described above may 20 also use a guidewire 78 (Fig. 4) to perform the locating functions 2J provided by the locator tube 30 in the previous embodiments. All three 22 of the compression elements, viz., the compression balloon 42, the 23 expandable prong element 66 and the foam pad 74, may be utilized 24 with the guidewire 78. For purposes of illustration, Figs. 4 through 4F, 5 showing only the compression balloon 42 alternative, may be viewed 6 with the understanding that the method to be described in conjunction 27 therewith applies to all three guidewire 78 embodiments. J Referring now to Fig. 4A, the introducer 12 is shown as it 2 remains in the puncture 20 after a vascular access procedure. A 3 conventional surgical guidewire 78 is extended through the introducer 4 12 so that its distal end 82 extends into the lumen of the vessel 18. The 5 dual lumen catheter 32 is passed over the guidewire 78 so that a first 6 lumen 36 (Fig. ID) of the catheter 32 receives the guidewire 78. The 7 guidewire 78 maintains alignment of the catheter 32 with the puncture 8 20 and allows re-access into the vessel 18 if it becomes necessary. As 9 described earlier, the catheter 32, having an inflatable compression 10 balloon 42 at its distal end 34, is inserted fully into the introducer 12 JJ until its distal end 34, including the uninflated compression balloon 42, J2 is enclosed within the working channel 26 at the distal end 22 of the 13 introducer 12, as shown in Fig.4B. J4 A radiopaque contrast medium (not shown) is introduced into 15 the catheter first lumen 36, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A main leg 88 of a J 6 conventional hemostasis "Y" 86 may be passed over the guidewire 78 J 7 and attached to the proximal end 33 of the catheter lumen 36. The 18 contrast medium is then introduced into the catheter lumen 36 via a 19 side port 90 of the "Y" 86, and viewed by the practitioner using 20 conventional fluoroscopic techniques. To aid in locating the position of 2J the catheter distal end 34, a radiopaque marker 84 may be provided at 22 the tip of the catheter distal end 34 (Fig. 4D). 23 As the practitioner views the vascular scene under fluoroscopy, 24 the introducer 12 with the catheter 32 is partially withdrawn in the 25 direction of the arrow 52 from the puncture 20. Withdrawal is 26 continued until contrast medium in the catheter lumen 36 escaping 27 from around the guidewire 78 into the vessel 18 is observed to form an 23 J extravasation cloud 85, signifying that the introducer 12 and the 2 catheter 32 have exited the puncture 20. When the practitioner is 3 satisfied through fluoroscopy that the catheter distal end element 34 is 4 the preferred distance of about 5 to 15 mm from the vessel 18, 5 withdrawal of the catheter 32 is halted, as shown in Fig. 4C. 6 The remainder of the closure procedure is essentially the same as 7 described above after the preferred position of the catheter 32 was 8 determined through the locator tube 30 method. The introducer 12 is 9 moved from its first or distal position relative to the catheter 32 to its J 0 second or proximal position, to expose the uninflated compression JJ balloon 42, as shown in Fig. 4D. The compression balloon 42 is then J2 inflated to bear on the fatty tissue layer 56 as shown in Fig. 4E. The 13 locating means (in this embodiment guidewire 78) is then withdrawn J4 from the apparatus after an initial period of clotting (Fig. 4F). As 15 noted previously, the method employing the guidewire 78 may be J 6 effectively adapted for use with the expandable prong element and J 7 foam tip embodiments of the present invention. J 8 Still another method of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5, 19 wherein the apparatus 110 differs from the apparatus 10 in that the 20 introducer 112 and the catheter 132 are not luer-locked together. 2J Figure 5 shows the position of the catheter 132 aligned with a visible 22 marker band 57 on the locator tube 30, just as in the first embodiment 23 described above. It will be readily understood that the method of this 24 "luerless" apparatus 110 may be equally utilized with the guidewire 78 25 as with the locator tube 30 for the compression balloon embodiment of 26 this invention. 27 When the preferred location of the expanded compression J balloon 42 has been achieved as shown in Fig. 5, by applying either the 2 guidewire or the locator tube methods previously explained, force must 3 be applied from above to the compression balloon 42 to maintain 4 hemostatic pressure on the fatty tissue layer 56. The practitioner 5 advances the introducer 112 downward in the direction of the arrow 62 6 until the introducer distal end 22 makes contact with the surface of the 7 compression balloon 42. This hemostatic pressure is then maintained 8 by securing the introducer sheath cuff 60 to the skin patch 58 via the 9 fastener strips or bands 64. It will be noted that no downward pressure 10 is being exerted on the catheter 132 itself, since it has no mechanical JJ interlock with the introducer 112, as in the previous described J2 embodiments. 13 Although certain exemplary embodiments of the invention have J 4 been described hereinabove, it will be appreciated that a number of 15 variations and modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in 16 the pertinent arts. For example, a coagulant agent may be applied to J 7 any of the above-described compression elements. Such variations and J 8 modifi-cations are considered within the spirit and scope of the 19 invention as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims: J WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 2 1. A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel 3 puncture by compressing the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, 4 wherein the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through an incision by 5 an introducer disposed within the incision, the introducer having a 6 proximal portion disposed externally to the skin surface, a distal end 7 initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial channel 8 therebetween, the device comprising: 9 a catheter dimensioned to be received within the axial J 0 channel and having an axial lumen communicating with an open JJ distal end, the introducer being axially movable relative to the J2 catheter between a distal position and a proximal position, the 13 distal end of the catheter being enclosed within the introducer J4 when the introducer is in its distal position, and being exposed to 15 the subcutaneous tissue distally from the distal end of the 16 introducer when the introducer is moved to its proximal position; J 7 an elongate, flexible locator member extending through the 18 catheter lumen and the distal end of the catheter and having a 19 distal portion extensible into the interior of the vessel through 20 the puncture; and 2J an expansible compression element attached to the distal 22 end of the catheter, the compression element having a collapsed 23 position when the distal end of the catheter is enclosed, and an 24 expanded position when the distal end of the catheter is exposed; 25 whereby the compression element, in its expanded position, 26 is deployable so as to compress the subcutaneous tissue adjacent 27 the puncture, thereby to promote hemostasis at the puncture. J 2. The device of Claim 1, wherein the axial lumen of the 2 catheter is a first catheter lumen, wherein the catheter includes a 3 second axial lumen, and wherein the compression element comprises: 4 an inflatable element in fluid communication with the 5 second catheter lumen and inflatable by a fluid introduced 6 through the second lumen, the compression element being in its 7 collapsed position when the inflatable element is uninflated and 8 in its expanded position when the inflatable element is inflated. 9 3. The device of Claim 1, wherein the compression element JO comprises an assembly of collapsible prongs, each having a proximal J J end attached to the distal end of the catheter, and a distal end attached J2 to a resilient spanning sheet, the compression element being in its 13 collapsed position when the prong assembly is collapsed radially J4 inwardly, and in its expanded position when the prong assembly is 15 expanded radially outwardly. 16 4. The device of Claim 1, wherein the compression element J 7 comprises a resilient foam pad attached to the distal end of the catheter 18 and having a collapsed position when the distal end of the catheter is 19 enclosed, and an expanded position when the distal end of the catheter 20 is exposed. 2J 5. The device of Claim 1, wherein the locator member 22 comprises: 23 a hollow locator tube disposed axially through the catheter 24 lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the catheter and 25 having a distal portion extensible into the interior of the vessel 26 through the puncture; and 27 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the J locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 2 positioned in the interior of the vessel. 3 6. The device of Claim 1, wherein the locator member 4 comprises: 5 an elongate guide wire disposed axially through the 6 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 7 catheter and into the interior of the vessel through the puncture. 8 7. The device of Claim 2, wherein the locator member 9 comprises: 10 a hollow locator tube disposed axially through the first J J catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the J2 catheter and having a distal portion extensible into the interior of 13 the vessel through the puncture; and J 4 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the 15 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 16 positioned in the interior of the vessel. J 7 8. The device of Claim 2, wherein the locator member 18 comprises: 19 an elongate guide wire disposed axially through the first 20 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 2J catheter and into the interior of the vessel through the puncture. 22 9. The device of Claim 3, wherein the spanning sheet includes 23 an aperture, and wherein the locator member comprises: 24 a hollow locator tube disposed axially through the catheter 25 lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the catheter and 26 the spanning sheet aperture, and having a distal portion 27 extensible into the interior of the vessel through the puncture; J and 2 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the 3 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 4 positioned in the interior of the vessel. 5 10. The device of Qaim 3, wherein the spanning sheet includes 6 an aperture, and wherein the locator member comprises: 7 an elongate guide wire disposed axially through the 8 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 9 catheter and the spanning sheet aperture into the interior of the 10 vessel through the puncture. J J 11. The device of Claim 4, wherein the foam pad includes an J2 axial passage, and wherein the locator member comprises: 13 a hollow locator tube disposed axially through the catheter J 4 lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the catheter and 15 the axial passage in the foam pad, the locator tube having a distal 16 portion extensible into the interior of the vessel through the J 7 puncture; and 18 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the 19 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 20 positioned in the interior of the vessel. 2J 12. The device of Qaim 4, wherein the foam pad includes an 22 axial passage, and wherein the locator member comprises: 23 an elongate guide wire disposed axially through the 24 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 25 catheter and the axial passage in the foam pad, the guide wire 26 having a distal portion extensible into the interior of the vessel 27 through the puncture. J 13. The device of Qaim 1, further comprising: 2 a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter; and 3 means for introducing a contrast medium into the catheter 4 lumen. 5 14. The device of Qaim 2, further comprising: 6 a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter; and 7 means for introducing a contrast medium into the first 8 catheter lumen. 9 15. The device of Qaim 1, further comprising: J 0 pressure applying means, engageable with the external J J portion of the introducer, for applying a downward force to the J2 introducer when the catheter is disposed within the axial channel 13 of the introducer. J4 16. The device of Qaim 15, wherein the catheter is connected 15 to the introducer so that the downward force is applied to both the 16 introducer and the catheter. J 7 17. The device of Claim 15, wherein the pressure applying 18 means comprises: 19 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 20 introducer; and 2J a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 22 attachable to the surface of the skin. 23 18. The device of Qaim 16, wherein the pressure applying 24 means comprises: 25 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 26 introducer; and 27 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively J attachable to the surface of the skin. 2 19. A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel 3 puncture by compressing the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, 4 wherein the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through an incision by 5 an introducer disposed within the incision, the introducer having a 6 proximal end disposed externally to the skin surface, a distal end 7 initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial channel 8 therebetween, the device comprising: 9 a catheter dimensioned to be received within the axial 10 channel and having a first axial lumen communicating with an JJ open distal end and a second axial lumen, the introducer being J2 axially movable relative to the catheter between a distal position 13 and a proximal position, the distal end of the catheter being J4 enclosed within the introducer when the introducer is in its distal 15 position, and being exposed to the subcutaneous tissue distally 16 from the distal end of the introducer when the introducer is J 7 moved to its proximal position; and 18 an inflatable compression element attached to the distal 19 end of the catheter and in fluid communication with the second 20 lumen so as to be inflatable with a fluid introduced through the 2J second lumen when the distal end of the catheter is exposed; 22 whereby the compression element, when inflated, is 23 deployable so as to compress the subcutaneous tissue adjacent 24 the puncture, thereby to promote hemostasis at the puncture. 25 20. The device of Qaim 19, further comprising: 26 an elongate, flexible locator member extending through the 27 first catheter lumen and the distal end of the catheter, and J having a distal portion extensible into the interior of the vessel 2 through the puncture. 3 21. The device of Qaim 20, wherein the locator member 4 comprises: 5 a hollow locator tube disposed axially through the first 6 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 7 catheter and having a distal portion extensible into the interior of 8 the vessel through the puncture; and 9 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the J 0 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when J J positioned in the interior of the vessel. J2 22. The device of Qaim 20, wherein the locator member 13 comprises: J4 an elongate guide wire disposed axially through the first 15 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the J 6 catheter and into the interior of the vessel through the puncture. J 7 23. The device of Qaim 19, further comprising: 18 a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter; and 19 means for introducing a contrast medium into the first 20 catheter lumen. 2J 24. The device of Qaim 19, further comprising: 22 pressure applying means, engageable with the external 23 portion of the introducer, for applying a downward force to the 24 introducer when the catheter is disposed within the axial channel 25 of the introducer. 26 25. The device of Qaim 24, wherein the catheter is connected 27 to the introducer so that the downward force is applied to both the J introducer and the catheter. 2 26. The device of Qaim 24, wherein the pressure applying 3 means comprises: 4 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 5 introducer; and 6 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 7 attachable to the surface of the skin. 8 27. The device of Qaim 25, wherein the pressure applying 9 means comprises: JO a clamping device secured to the external portion of the JJ introducer; and J2 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 13 attachable to the surface of the skin. J4 28. A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel 15 puncture by compressing the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, J 6 wherein the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through an incision by J 7 an introducer disposed within the incision, the introducer having a 18 proximal end disposed externally to the skin surface, a distal end J 9 initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial channel 20 therebetween, the device comprising: 2J a catheter dimensioned to be received within the axial 22 channel and having an axial lumen communicating with an open 23 distal end, the introducer being axially movable relative to the 24 catheter between a distal position and a proximal position, the 25 distal end of the catheter being enclosed within the introducer 26 when the introducer is in its distal position, and being exposed to 27 the subcutaneous tissue distally from the distal end of the J introducer when the introducer is moved to its proximal position; 2 and 3 an assembly of collapsible prongs, each having a proximal 4 end attached to the distal end of the catheter and a distal end 5 attached to a spanning sheet, the prong assembly having a 6 radially inwardly collapsed position when the distal end of the 7 catheter is enclosed, and a radially outwardly expanded position 8 when the distal end of the catheter is exposed; 9 whereby the prong assembly, in its expanded position, is 10 deployable so as to compress the subcutaneous tissue adjacent J J the puncture, thereby to promote hemostasis at the puncture. J2 29. The device of Qaim 28, wherein the spanning sheet 13 includes an aperture, the device further comprising: J 4 an elongate, flexible locator member extensible through 15 the catheter lumen, the distal end of the catheter, and the J 6 spanning sheet aperture, and having a distal portion extensible J 7 into the interior of the vessel through the puncture. J 8 30. The device of Qaim 29, wherein the locator member 19 comprises: 20 a hollow locator tube extensible axially through the 2J catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 22 catheter and the spanning sheet aperture, and having a distal 23 portion extensible into the interior of the vessel through the 24 puncture; and 25 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the 26 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 27 positioned in the interior of the vessel. J 31. The device of Qaim 29, wherein the locator member 2 comprises: 3 an elongate guide wire extensible axially through the 4 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 5 catheter and the spanning sheet aperture, and into the interior of 6 the vessel through the puncture. 7 32. The device of Qaim 28, further comprising: 8 a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter; and 9 means for introducing a contrast medium into the catheter J 0 lumen. J J 33. The device of Qaim 28, further comprising: J2 pressure applying means, engageable with the external 13 portion of the introducer, for applying a downward force to the J4 introducer when the catheter is disposed within the axial channel 15 of the introducer. 16 34. The device of Qaim 33, wherein the catheter is connected J 7 to the introducer so that the downward force is applied to both the 18 introducer and the catheter. 19 35. The device of Qaim 33, wherein the pressure applying 20 means comprises: 2J a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 22 introducer; and 23 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 24 attachable to the surface of the skin. 25 36. The device of Qaim 34, wherein the pressure applying 26 means comprises: 27 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the J introducer; and 2 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 3 attachable to the surface of the skin. 4 37. A device for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel 5 puncture by compressing the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, 6 wherein the puncture is accessed subcutaneously through an incision by 7 an introducer disposed within the incision, the introducer having a 8 proximal end disposed externally to the skin surface, a distal end 9 initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial channel 10 therebetween, the device comprising: J J a catheter dimensioned to be received within the axial J2 channel and having an axial lumen communicating with an open 13 distal end, the introducer being axially movable relative to the J4 catheter between a distal position and a proximal position, the 15 distal end of the catheter being enclosed within the introducer J 6 when the introducer is in its distal position, and being exposed to J 7 the subcutaneous tissue distally from the distal end of the J 8 introducer when the introducer is moved to its proximal position; 19 and 20 a resilient foam pad attached to the distal end of the 2J catheter, the pad having a collapsed position when the distal end 22 of the catheter is enclosed, and an expanded position when the 23 distal end of the catheter is exposed; 24 whereby the pad, in its expanded position, is deployable so 25 as to compress the subcutaneous tissue adjacent the puncture, 26 thereby to promote hemostasis at the puncture. 27 38. The device of Claim 37, wherein the pad includes an axial 36 J passage therethrough, the device further comprising: 2 an elongate, flexible locator member extensible through 3 the catheter lumen, the distal end of the catheter and the axial 4 passage through the pad, and having a distal portion extensible 5 into the interior of the vessel through the puncture. 6 39. The device of Qaim 38, wherein the locator member 7 comprises: 8 a hollow locator tube extensible axially through the 9 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 10 catheter and the axial passage through the pad, and having a J J distal portion extensible into the interior of the vessel through J2 the puncture; and 13 a locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the J 4 locator tube and inflatable through the locator tube when 15 positioned in the interior of the vessel. 16 40. The device of Qaim 38, wherein the locator member J 7 comprises: 18 an elongate guide wire extensible axially through the 19 catheter lumen so as to extend through the distal end of the 20 catheter and the axial passage through the pad, and into the 2J interior of the vessel through the puncture. 22 41. The device of Claim 37, further comprising: 23 a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter; and 24 means for introducing a contrast medium into the catheter 25 lumen. 26 42. The device of Claim 37, further comprising: 27 pressure applying means, engageable with the external J portion of the introducer, for applying a downward force to the 2 introducer when the catheter is disposed within the axial channel 3 of the introducer. 4 43. The device of Qaim 42, wherein the catheter is connected 5 to the introducer so that the downward force is applied to both the 6 introducer and the catheter. 7 44. The device of Qaim 42, wherein the pressure applying 8 means comprises: 9 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 10 introducer; and JJ a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively J2 attachable to the surface of the skin. 13 45. The device of Qaim 43, wherein the pressure applying J4 means comprises: 15 a clamping device secured to the external portion of the 16 introducer; and J 7 a skin patch secured to the clamping device and adhesively 18 attachable to the surface of the skin. 19 46. A method for promoting hemostasis in a blood vessel 20 puncture that is accessed subcutaneously through an incision by an 2J introducer disposed within the incision, the introducer having a portion 22 disposed externally to the skin surface with an open proximal end, an 23 open distal end initially positionable within the puncture, and an axial 24 channel therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: 25 providing a catheter having a distal end to which is 26 attached an expansible compression element, and passing the 27 catheter through the introducer channel so that the compression J element is enclosed, in a collapsed position, near the distal end 2 of the introducer; 3 withdrawing the introducer and the catheter together in 4 the proximal direction a predetermined distance from the 5 puncture, while maintaining the compression element enclosed 6 within the introducer; 7 moving the introducer axially relative to the catheter in the 8 proximal direction to expose the compression element from the 9 distal end of the introducer; J 0 expanding the compression element in the subcutaneous JJ tissue between the puncture and the skin; and J2 applying pressure to the compression element to promote 13 hemostasis at the puncture. J4 47. The method of Qaim 46, further comprising the step of: 15 before the step of passing the catheter, passing an J 6 elongate, flexible locator member through the introducer channel J 7 and into the blood vessel through the distal end of the introducer 18 and through the puncture, the catheter having an axial lumen so 19 that, when the catheter is passed through the introducer channel, 20 the catheter is disposed coaxially between the locator member 2J and the introducer. 22 48. The method of Qaim 47, wherein the locator member 23 comprises a hollow locator tube having a distal portion extensible into 24 the interior of the blood vessel through the puncture, and an inflatable 25 locating balloon disposed at the distal portion of the tube, and wherein 26 the step of withdrawing the catheter and the introducer includes the 27 steps of: J inflating the locating balloon through the locator tube 2 while the distal portion of the tube, including the locating 3 balloon, is disposed within the blood vessel; and 4 withdrawing the catheter, the introducer, and the locator 5 tube together in the proximal direction until the locating balloon 6 lodges against the interior wall of the blood vessel. 7 49. The method of Qaim 47, further comprising the steps of: 8 after the application of pressure to the compression 9 element for a first period of time, withdrawing the locator 10 member from the puncture; and J J continuing the application of pressure to the compression J2 element for a second period of time. 13 50. The method of Qaim 49, further comprising the steps of: J4 after the second period of time has elapsed, collapsing the 15 compression element; and J 6 withdrawing the catheter and the introducer from the J 7 incision. 18 51. The method of Qaim 47, wherein the locator member J 9 includes a guide wire having a distal portion extensible into the blood 20 vessel through the puncture, and wherein the step of withdrawing 2J includes the steps of: 22 introducing a contrast medium into the puncture through 23 the catheter lumen; and 24 fluoroscopically viewing the contrast medium as the 25 catheter and the introducer are withdrawn to determine when the 26 predetermined distance from the puncture has been attained. 27 52. The method of Claim 46, wherein the step of applying pressure to the compression element comprises the steps of: applying pressure to the external portion of the introducer; and transmitting the pressure to the compression element. 53. The method of Qaim 52, wherein the transmitting step comprises the steps of: attaching the introducer to the skin surface; connecting the introducer to the catheter; and transmitting the pressure from the introducer to the catheter and then to the compression element.

Inventors: BRENNEMAN RODNEY, CRAGG ANDREW H, BRENNEMAN, RODNEY, CRAGG, ANDREW, H.
Applicants: SUB Q INC, SUB-Q, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61B19, A61M25