Patent attributes
A sealing device for sealing punctures in blood vessel walls including a flange connected to a flexible stem having an expansion portion in it. The flexible stem is adapted to be accommodated inside a delivery tube. The delivery tube further includes a hand-hold for ease of handling. The sealing device may further include a loader and a cutter. The flange and flexible stem are preferably constructed of a biodegradable material that has a tensile strength, rigidity, memory and other physical qualities similar to medical grade silicone. The resilient transverse expansion portion expands when deployed beyond the delivery tube in the tissue tract to create a frictional interface with the interior surface of the tissue tract to resist displacement of the flexible stem from a desired location in the tissue tract. The flexible stem also includes a flange at the distal end of the flexible stem to seal the puncture when the flexible stem is deployed.
