Patent ID: 8083767

Claim:
A method for forming a tract in a tissue wall using a device comprising an anchor having an anchor longitudinal axis and an introduction device having an introduction longitudinal axis that forms an introduction angle with the anchor longitudinal axis, the method comprising: advancing the anchor at a first angle into a lumen defined by the tissue wall; introducing the introduction device through the tissue wall and through a proximal extension of the anchor; advancing the introduction device into the lumen to create a tract through the tissue wall, the tract including at least two sloped regions, wherein when the introduction device enters the lumen, the introduction angle has an absolute value from about 0° to about 30° and is different than the first angle; and advancing an introducer sheath into the tract to expand the tract so that a procedure may be performed therethrough, wherein after the procedure has been performed and the introduction device has been withdrawn from the tract, blood pressure acting on the tissue wall causes first and second opposed tissue portions defining the tract to contact each other and self-seal.