Methods and apparatus for hemostasis following arterial catheterization

Applicant\'s U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,728,134 and 6,048,358, and published PCT Applications WO 98/11830 and WO 00/02488 describe methods and apparatus for hemostasis which greatly simplify hemostasis and thus greatly reduce patient discomfort following arterial catheterization. These patent documents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, and the prior art referenced therein are considered to represent the state of the art.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for hemostasis following arterial catheterization.

Various techniques are known for arterial catheterization. Following arterial catheterization, it is necessary to promote hemostasis quickly and without undue hardship for the patient.

The present invention seeks to provide improved apparatus and techniques for measuring the progress of and accelerating hemostasis.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for monitoring the progress of hemostasis of an artery having a puncture after arterial catheterization, the catheterization using a catheter introducer, the method including the steps of inserting into an artery a catheter introducer prior to arterial catheterization, following arterial catheterization, introducing a hemostasis device into the catheter introducer, such that a forward end of the hemostasis device lies exterior of the artery adjacent a puncture in a wall of the artery, during hemostasis, measuring the heat conductivity of blood in the vicinity of the puncture, thereby to provide an output indication of the progress of hemostasis and following hemostasis, removing the catheter introducer and the hemostasis device from the patient.

Preferably, the method also includes inflating a balloon attached to the catheter introducer to block the puncture, prior to the introducing a hemostasis device. Additionally, the removing the catheter introducer also includes deflating the balloon prior to removing the catheter introducer.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for accelerating hemostasis of an artery having a puncture after arterial catheterization, the catheterization using a catheter introducer, the method including the steps of inserting into an artery a catheter introducer prior to arterial catheterization, following arterial catheterization, introducing a hemostasis device into the catheter introducer, such that a forward end of the hemostasis device lies exterior of the artery adjacent a puncture in a wall of the artery, accelerating hemostasis by heating blood in the vicinity of the puncture, thereby shortening the time required for hemostasis and following hemostasis, removing the catheter introducer and hemostasis device from the patient.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes inflating a balloon attached to the catheter introducer to block the puncture, prior to the introducing a hemostasis device. Additionally, the removing the catheter introducer also includes deflating the balloon prior to removing the catheter introducer.

Alternatively or additionally, the method also includes measuring the heat conductivity of blood in the vicinity of the puncture during hemostasis, thereby to provide an output indication of the progress of hemostasis.

There is further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention a hemostasis device including a resistance element, disposed at a forward end of the hemostasis device, a resistance sensor and a resistance indicator, operative to provide an indication of the resistance at the resistance sensor.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hemostasis device also includes a power supply serially connected to the resistance element, the resistance sensor and the resistance indicator. Preferably, the power supply is operative to supply a high level current to the resistance element. Alternatively, the power supply is operative to supply a low level current to the resistance sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are simplified pictorial illustrations of respective first and second modes of operation of a hemostasis device constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the hemostasis device of FIGS. 1A and 1B during hemostasis; and

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