1. A method for closing a hole in a vessel, comprising:
a. inserting through the hole an implantable closure device having proximal and distal ends and being expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, the expanded state providing a geometry sufficient to substantially occlude the hole;
b. inserting a distal portion of an elongate guiding member through the hole and into a vascular lumen formed by the vessel; and
c. controllably expanding the implantable closure device to the expanded state to occlude the hole, while leaving the distal portion of the elongate guiding member extending into the vascular lumen.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting an introducer sheath through the hole, the introducer sheath defining an introducer lumen sized to accommodate insertion of the collapsed state of the closure device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting comprises advancing the implantable closure device relative to the hole with a deployment member having a proximal portion configured for manual manipulation and a distal portion configured to be removably coupled to the implantable closure device.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising controllably moving the collapsed closure device relative to the deployment member to place the closure device into a geometric configuration relative to the vascular lumen that is selected to prevent withdrawal of the closure device back out of the hole.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein controllably moving comprises rotating the collapsed closure device relative to the deployment member to place the closure device into a rotated orientation selected to prevent withdrawal of the closure device back out of the hole when the deployment member is withdrawn.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein controllably moving comprises translating the collapsed closure device relative to the deployment member to place the closure device into compression against a portion of the deployment member.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein translating causes the collapsed closure device to controllably rotate to a rotated orientation selected to prevent withdrawal of the closure device back out of the hole.
8. The method of claim 2, further comprising advancing an assembly of a delivery sheath and collapsed implantable closure device, at least a portion of which is removably positioned within the introducer lumen, to a deployment position within the vascular lumen wherein reconfiguration of the implantable device from the collapsed state to the expanded state is desired, and maintaining the position of the collapsed implantable device while retracting the delivery sheath to expose the collapsed implantable device to the vascular lumen.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting the deployment position based at least in part upon an indication from a bleedback indicator channel.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising urging the expanded implantable closure device toward the hole, wherein the expanded state is configured to contact at least 90 degrees of an inner surface of the vessel adjacent the hole relative to a longitudinal axis of the vascular lumen, and to restrict fluids from exiting the vascular lumen through the hole.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the closure device is a self expanding structure configured to expand itself from the collapsed state to the expanded state when not restrained in the collapsed state.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein controllably expanding comprises moving a portion of a deployment tensile element relative to the self expanding structure to allow the self expanding structure to expand itself to the expanded state.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the closure device expanded state forms a substantially cylindrical shape defining a lumen therethrough.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate guiding member comprises a guidewire.
15. The method of claim 3, wherein inserting the elongate guiding member through the hole comprises advancing the elongate guiding member through a lumen defined through the deployment member.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate guiding member is removably coupled to the implantable closure device.
17. The method of claim 3, further comprising decoupling the deployment member from the implantable closure device while leaving the distal portion of the elongate guiding member extending into the vascular lumen.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising engaging the elongate guiding member to re-enter the vascular lumen in an over-the-wire configuration.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing the elongate guiding member from the vascular lumen.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the distal portion of the elongate guiding member comprises a radioopaque material selected to be visible with fluoroscopic imaging.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable closure device is inserted through the hole before the elongate guiding member.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate guiding member is inserted through the hole before the implantable closure device.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the implantable closure device is inserted through the hole and over the elongate guiding member in an over-the-wire configuration.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An anti-balling system configured to be used with a crampon to prevent balling and snow accumulation during snow and ice climbing, the system comprising:
a) a plate, attached to the bottom of the crampon, having a lower surface formed of a thermoplastic material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon; and
b) the plate further including at least one loop integrally formed at a front of the plate configured to receive a front point of the crampon to attach the plate to the crampon.
2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the plate further includes a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom forming a plurality of raised sections and a plurality of edges forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to be removably attachable to the crampon.
4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plate is rigid.
5. An anti-balling system configured to be used with a crampon to prevent balling and snow accumulation and to prevent sliding or skidding during snow and ice climbing, the system comprising:
a) a plate, attached to the bottom of the crampon, having a lower surface formed of a thermoplastic material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon; and
b) a plurality of raised sections, formed on the lower surface of the plate and extending therefrom, formed of a thermoplastic elastomer or urethane material different from the thermoplastic material of the plate forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lower surface of the plate further includes a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom forming the plurality of raised sections and a plurality of edges forming the nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
7. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the plate is configured to be removably attachable to the crampon.
8. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the plate is rigid.
9. An anti-balling system configured to be used with a crampon to prevent balling and snow accumulation during snow and ice climbing, the system comprising:
a) a crampon having a bottom and a plurality of points extending downwardly therefrom to form an interior space, including at least one front point extending generally downwardly and forwardly;
b) a plate, attached to the bottom of the crampon, having a lower surface formed of a thermoplastic material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon; and
c) the plate further including at least one loop integrally formed at a front of the plate and receiving the at least one front point of the crampon to attach the plate to the crampon.
10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the crampon further includes side points on either thereof, the side points each including an aperture therethrough; and wherein the plate further includes apertures on either side thereof located to align with the apertures of the side points; and further comprising fasteners extending through the apertures in the side points and the apertures in the plates to attach the plate to the crampon.
11. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the lower surface of the plate further includes a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom forming a plurality of raised sections and a plurality of edges forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
12. A system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:
a plurality of sections, formed on the lower surface of the plate, formed of a material different from the material of the plate forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
13. A system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:
a plurality of raised sections, formed on the lower surface of the plate and extending therefrom, formed of a thermoplastic elastomer or urethane material different from the thermoplastic material of the plate forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.
14. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the plate is removably attachable to the crampon.
15. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the plate is rigid.
16. A method for attaching an anti-balling plate to a crampon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a crampon having a bottom and a plurality of points extending downwardly therefrom to form an interior space, including at least one front point extending generally downwardly and forwardly, and side points each having an aperture extending therethrough;
b) providing an anti-balling plate having a lower surface formed of a thermoplastic material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon, and having at least one loop integrally formed at a front of the plate and apertures formed in sides thereof;
c) positioning the plate at the bottom of the crampon and sliding the at least one front point of the crampon through the at least one loop of the plate to secure the front of the plate to the front of the crampon;
d) aligning the apertures of the plate with the apertures of the side points; and
e) securing the sides of the plate to the sides of the crampon by inserting fasteners through the apertures in the side points and the apertures in the plate.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:
removing the plate from the crampon by removing the fasteners and sliding the front point back out of the loop.
18. An anti-balling system configured to be used with a crampon to prevent balling and snow accumulation during snow and ice climbing, the system comprising:
a) a crampon having a bottom and a plurality of points extending downwardly therefrom to form an interior space;
b) a plate, attached to the bottom of the crampon, having a lower surface formed of a material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon; and
c) a bail, attached to the crampon, to secure a user’s boot to the crampon, and having an end portion to secure the plate to the crampon.
19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the crampon further has a center strap connecting front and rear rails; and wherein the plate further includes a loop to receive the center strap therethrough to further attach the plate to the crampon.
20. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the plate is rigid.
21. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the plate is formed of a thermoplastic material.
22. A method for attaching an anti-balling plate to a crampon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a crampon having a bottom and a plurality of points extending downwardly therefrom to form an interior space, and having a bail attached thereto to secure a user’s boot to the crampon;
b) providing an anti-balling plate having a lower surface formed of a material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon;
c) positioning the plate at the bottom of the crampon; and
d) securing the plate between the crampon and an end portion of the bail.
23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the crampon includes a center strap connecting front and rear rails; and wherein the plate has at least one loop to receive the center strap therethrough; and further comprising the step of:
sliding the center strap of the crampon through the at least one loop of the plate to secure the plate to the crampon.
24. An anti-balling system configured to be used with a crampon to prevent balling and snow accumulation during snow and ice climbing, the system comprising:
a) a rigid plate, attached to the bottom of the crampon, having a lower surface formed of a material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate, and thus to the crampon.
25. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the plate is formed of a thermoplastic material.