Patent ID: 8012168

Claim:
A method for creating a self-sealing tract in a blood vessel using a device comprising a first introducer and a second introducer, the method comprising: a. advancing the first introducer into the vessel wall through a first arteriotomy that has a first angle with respect to the vessel wall; b. applying a force to the first introducer to position a portion of the vessel wall adjacent the first introducer in a desired configuration relative to the first introducer; c. while maintaining the vessel wall portion in the desired configuration with the first introducer, advancing the second introducer through a proximal extension of the first introducer and through a blood vessel wall to create a substantially diagonal tract through the vessel wall wherein a distal portion of the tract defines a second angle with respect to the vessel wall, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle, and wherein the tract is defined between overlapping tissue portions of the vessel wall; and d. expanding the tract with a sheath so that a procedure may be performed therethrough, wherein after the procedure has been performed and the device and sheath have been withdrawn from the tract, blood pressure acting on the vessel causes the overlapping tissue portions to collapse and self-seal.