Patent ID: 8900263

Claim:
A method of accessing a body lumen, comprising: positioning an introducer needle adjacent to a body lumen wall, the introducer needle having an annular-shaped body with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having an open perimeter leading edge with a slot defined therein, the slot extending proximally from the leading edge; cutting an incision in the body lumen wall to form a flap in the body lumen wall, the flap having a base portion attached to the body lumen wall and a free portion extending from the base portion, a perimeter of the free portion approximating the open perimeter leading edge of the introducer needle, the incision having a first end and a second end each terminating at the base portion, the first end and the second end being separated by a central angle of less than 360 degrees to form the base portion of the flap in the body lumen wall, the flap being oriented substantially in a direction of the flow of fluid within the body lumen such that the base portion is located upstream of the free portion; accessing the incision with one or more medical devices; and disposing a plug adjacent to the incision following removal of the one or more medical devices.