| abstract |
A wound sealing system and method for closing a vascular access site. The method invisions suturing a single continuous Z-stitch into a skin area around a wound and wound tract while the catheter remains within the vessel; covering the wound and suture holes with a hemostatic powder; tightening and knotting the ends of the suture together in an X configuration, applying finger pressure against the hemostatic powder as the catheter is removed; and twisting the suture ends together to tension the Z-stitch, pulling the skin area into inversion. The wound sealing system includes a powder containment device (PCD) which surrounds wound and catheter and a suture twisting member configured with the PCD to tension the Z-stitch closing the wound and arresting blood flow. The hole in the PCD holds a quantity of the hemostatic agent sufficient to cover the wound and suture holes. |