Patent ID: 8002793

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may be performed therethrough, wherein after the procedure has been performed and the device and sheath have been withdrawn from the tract, blood pressure acting on the vessel causes the overlapping tissue portions to collapse and self-seal.