Abstract

A vascular hemostasis device comprises a shaft coaially received within a hollow tube, and having a distal end formed with an opposed pair of resilient grasping prongs. The tube has an open distal end that may be situated percutaneously adjacent a vascular puncture site. The shaft and the tube are axially movable with respect to one another, so that the distal end of the shaft may be selectively extended from and partially retracted into the distal end of the tube by means of an actuation member attached to the shaft. When the distal shaft end is in its extended position, the prongs are exposed from the distal end of the tube, and they resiliently expand to an open position. When the distal shaft end is moved to its retracted position, the prongs are partially retracted into the distal end of the tube, radially contracting them to a closed position. In contracting, the prongs grasp and gather tissue adjacent the puncture site to obstruct bleeding therefrom. In a first embodiment, the prongs are on a distal end portion, of resorbable material, that is detachable from the body of the shaft. The tube is a sleeve through which the shaft is slidably disposed, the sleeve being axially received within a trocar that is installed percutaneously to the puncture site. A second preferred embodiment includes a unitary shaft with the prongs at the distal end. The tube in which the shaft is axially disposed is the trocar itself.