Patent ID: 8556930

Claim:
A vessel closure system for engaging vessel wall tissue and closing an opening in a bodily vessel comprising: a spiral closure device having a tissue engaging portion and being configured to slide through the vessel wall tissue, said spiral closure device comprising a proximal end, a distal end with a sharpened distal tip, and a medial portion between said proximal end and said distal end, said medial portion being wider than said proximal end and said distal end, said spiral closure device having a double-conical configuration; and a deployment mechanism having an opening therein for receiving said spiral closure device, said deployment mechanism being configured to rotatably engage said spiral closure device to penetrate the vessel wall tissue with said sharpened distal tip and advance the vessel wall tissue along said length of the spiral closure device to thereby close an opening in a bodily vessel, said deployment mechanism comprising a vessel locator having a bleed-black lumen and extending through and beyond the distal end of said spiral closure device and configured for positioning said spiral closure device in said opening.