Importance

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Abstract

A method of stopping bleeding around a catheter when an insertion sheath is removed is disclosed. This method involves using a novel tapered hemostatic device that can be moved along the catheter tube into the puncture site. The tapered hemostatic device of the present invention has an inner diameter that is just sufficient to permit the catheter tube to slide therethrough and a tapered outer diameter which at the distal end of the device is slightly larger than the inside diameter and at the proximal end of the device is at least as large as the outside diameter of the insertion sheath used to place the catheter in the blood vessel. The hemostatic device is moved down the catheter tube into the puncture site where the device stops the bleeding. Using a hemostasis cuff at the proximal end of the device to stop blood flow between the tapered hemostatic device of the invention and the catheter is also disclosed. The hemostatic device may contain a longitudinal channel along the wall of the device. Preferably, this channel is along the inner wall of the device. This channel permits blood to flow therethrough when the distal end of the device enters the blood vessel thereby serving as an indicator if the hemostatic device is in the blood vessel.

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First Claim