Abstract:
The present invention provides a vascular closure device wherein perforations are provided to allow a collagen to be wetted prior to deployment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a vascular closure devices and, more particularly, to a vascular closure device having blood perfusion holes to facilitate collagen wetting.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Vascular closure devices are generally known in the art.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional vascular closure device  100  useful in closing arterial punctures. Device  100  may include an anchor  102 , a bypass tube  104 , a hemostatic collagen sponge  106 , a suture  108 , a carrier tube  110 , a tamper tube  112 , a device sleeve  114 , a reference indicator  116 , and a device cap  118 .  
         [0003]     Using device  100 , anchor  102  is deployed to seal a vessel  202 , see  FIG. 2 . Device  100  is removed leaving anchor  102  deployed in vessel  202 , hemostatic collagen sponge  106  above anchor  102  with suture  108  threaded from anchor through sponge  106 , exiting the patient, and into device  100 . Tamper tube  112  is exposed during this step. With tension on suture  108 , tamper tube  112  uses suture  108  as a guide to advance collagen sponge  106  to complete the seal of vessel  202 . Once the seal is completed, tamper tube  112  and excess suture  108  are removed.  
         [0004]     Prior to tamping collagen sponge  106 , time must be allowed for collagen sponge  106  to wet, which can cause complications and takes a significant amount of time because the collagen sponge is almost entirely dry until bypass tube  104  and carrier tube  110  are removed. Thus, it would be desirous to develop a vascular closure device that allowed for wetting the collagen sponge prior to removal of the tubes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, collagen deployment tool is provided. The collagen deployment tool comprises a tube packed with a collagen. The tube contains at least one perforation that allows wetting of the collagen prior to removal of the tube.  
         [0006]     The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional vascular closure device;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of tamping a collagen sponge; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view of a collagen deployment device consistent with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     The present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows collagen deployment device  300 . Device  300  could be part of a larger tool, such as, for example, a vascular closure device similar to vascular closure device  100  ( FIG. 1 ). Collagen deployment device includes a tube  302 . Tube  302  could be a carrier tube. In this case, tube  302  is similar in all respects to a conventional carrier tube, but tube  302  includes perforations  304 . Perforations  304  can be a series of holes arranged randomly as shown. Instead of random placement, perforations  304  could be placed in a predefined pattern. Alternatively, perforations  304  can be slots, whether vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, or some combination of thereof. Also, perforations can be consistent holes or slots size, a combination of holes and slots of consistent size, or a combination of holes and slots of various or similar sizes. Further, while shown as circular holes and rectangular slots, the holes and slots could be numerous shapes and sizes, such as, triangular, square, rectangular, elliptical, trapezoidal or the like. Moreover, the holes and slots could have irregular shapes.  
         [0012]     Perforations  304  can be open pathways from an external side  306  of tube  302  to an internal side  308  of tube  302 . Alternatively, a membrane (not shown) could be used to cover perforations  304 . The membrane could be designed to pass liquids in one direction or to filter particulate, or the like.  
         [0013]     As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize on reading the disclosure, any number of perforations  304  configurations are possible. However, for vascular closure devices, it has been found that at least one slot  304   s  towards the distal end of carrier tube  302  and a number of laser drilled holes  304   h  arranged subsequent the slot allow for adequate wetting of collagen  106 .  
         [0014]     Finally, as shown, perforations  304 , whether slots or holes, are of consistent dimensions. While providing a uniform pattern of perforations of uniform dimensions is convenient, it is not necessary. Each hole or slot can have a different arrangement for other perforations.  
         [0015]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.