| abstract |
A device for sealing an opening in a vessel includes an anchor (20) attached to a suture (30). The anchor is inserted through the opening into the vessel, and the suture pulls the anchor against the vessel wall, forming a seal. A plug (40) is inserted over the suture and is axially compressed toward the anchor, locking the elements in place. The suture is braided or woven outside of the anchor so that it may be stored and handled easily, and is unbraided, unwoven and/or untangled at its distal end inside the anchor, so that individual filaments within the suture may extend laterally within the anchor. The laterally extending filaments subtend a larger footprint within the anchor than a comparable footprint if the suture were to remain braided or tied into a knot within the anchor, which may more effectively distribute the retaining forces within the anchor. In some cases, the plug material is formed from fibers of a mechanically strong material blended into a quick-dissolving material. |