the device and method described herein allow the trained practitioner to seal tissue without the need for suture or other foreign material to be left behind . as shown in fig2 a , a variation of the inventive system 10 includes a helical member 12 and a placement member ( e . g ., catheter ) 14 . it is noted that the system 10 may include an advancing mechanism 18 to thread the helical member 12 onto the catheter 14 . as such , the helical member 12 may be made to accommodate any number of catheters . alternatively , the helical member 12 may be provided with a catheter . in addition , the helical member 12 will be coupled in some manner to a power supply 19 to deliver energy for the treatment . the coupling may take place using connections on the catheter or a direct connection between the helical member 12 and the power supply 19 . in one example of a method for closure of patent foramen ovale ( pfo ), the practitioner places a guide wire into a vein , usually in the groin area , and advances the guide wire into the right atrium of the heart . as shown in fig2 a , the guide wire 16 can then be threaded into the tunnel of the pfo or , alternatively , can be placed alongside a flap of the pfo ( e . g ., 4 or 6 ) without entering the tunnel . the placement catheter 14 then advances over the wire into the right atrium . suction may be optionally applied through the catheter such that the catheter tip is apposed to the atrial wall and more specifically to the right side of the pfo . the helical member 12 then advances over the catheter 12 until it contacts the tip of the catheter 12 . as shown in fig2 b , the helical member 12 is then rotated to engage the tissue of the right and left sides of the pfo . the tip of the helical member 12 may be configured to ease penetration of tissue once it leaves the surface of the catheter 14 . accordingly , the tip of the helical member 12 along with the remainder of the coils may have a low profile when placed on the catheter 14 so that the medical practitioner does not experience undue resistance when advancing the helical member 12 and / or catheter 14 to the treatment site . it is noted that the guide wire may or may not be withdrawn when advancing the helical member 12 into the tissue . next , the tissue flaps 4 and 6 are drawn together . this may be accomplished any number of ways . the helical member 12 may draw the tissue together mechanically by reducing in diameter by drawing the coils together . in one example , the helical member 16 may be fabricated from a shape memory alloy ( e . g ., nitinol ) that compresses the tissue upon energizing and / or heating of the helical member 12 . alternatively , or in combination , as illustrated in fig2 c , the obturator may be advanced within the coils of the helical member 12 . in this case , the helical member 12 is advanced entirely through the flap of tissue 4 so that the obturator may be placed externally to the pfo tunnel causing the helical member 12 to compress the flaps of tissue together . as shown in fig2 a - 2 c , the helical member 12 may be inserted into the tissue without passing entirely through the tissue ( as shown in fig2 a and 2 b ). however , in some cases , the tissue may be too thin , or the medical practitioner may wish to pass the helical member 12 entirely through one or more of the flaps of tissue ( as shown in fig2 c ). it should be noted that a balloon , or other device may be substituted for the obturator 20 . all that is required is that the member advanced into the coils of the helical member 12 compress the tissue flaps 4 and 6 together . fig2 d - 2 e illustrate another variation of the inventive system . as illustrated , a vacuum device 28 may be used to secure the tissue being treated . in this variation , the vacuum device 28 secures to a flap of tissue 6 to prevent the flap 6 from moving . once the flap 6 is held in place , the helical member 12 may be threaded into the flaps . as illustrated , the helical member 12 will compress the tissue so that the area may be treated . after drawing the tissue together , the helical member 12 is then activated to heat the tissue while it is being compressed . after a sufficient time , for example , approximately 2 minutes at 70 degrees c ., the heating stops . after 30 - 60 seconds , after the tissue cools , external compression of the tissue is not required , so the obturator may be removed . the helical member 12 may then be removed via twisting in a direction opposite to the placement rotation . the guide wire may then be removed unless observation indicates the need for further intervention . if the medical practitioner desires to confirm closure of the pfo a contrast agent , such as gas - agitated saline , may be injected . if the pfo is larger or requires further treatment or re - treatment , the process may be repeated until the complete closure is demonstrated . fig3 depicts the foramen ovale following treatment . the ridges 8 are areas where the tissue has been treated , and as a result , has melded together . fig4 shows an example of the molecular structural changes that occur with the treatment described herein . fig5 depicts the use of the device for access puncture site closure . in the illustrated example , the device or catheter is inserted through leg . it is noted that the principles of the invention may be applied at any access site , not just those limited as shown . fig6 a illustrates the catheter 14 inserted into a vessel 10 . the helical member 12 may be placed on the catheter during insertion , or may be threaded onto the catheter after the catheter is inserted into the vessel . in any case , the helical member 12 advances to the vessel 10 . as shown in fig6 a and 6b , upon approaching the vessel 10 , the medical practitioner rotates the helical member 12 such that it penetrates the walls of the vessel 10 . it is noted that the tip of the helical member 12 should not extend excessively into the vessel 10 . accordingly , determination of the location of the tip of the helical member 12 may be desirable . the tip may communicate with the catheter 14 , or a portion thereof , by e . g ., closing a circuit . alternatively , the end of the helical member can act as an electrode capable of measuring capacitance , resistance or blood flow . when the tip enters the vessel , a lower resistance and capacitance as well as flow can be measured , providing confirmation of the proper placement of the helical member through the vessel wall . in such a case , when advancing the helical member 12 over the curved portion of the catheter 14 , the tip of the helical member will separate from the catheter and , upon further rotation , engage the surface of the catheter . therefore , a conductive surface on a portion of the catheter may assist in locating the tip of the helical member . additional variations also exist , ( e . g ., having a transducer that is equipped to determine doppler effect caused by flowing blood , a sensor that determines the temperature difference when placed in flowing blood , a flow detector , etc .) next , as illustrated in fig6 b the catheter 10 is withdrawn and the coils of the helical member 12 compresses the tissue to assist in tissue closure . as noted above , the compression may be performed without any additional device ( e . g ., a shape memory alloy or compression of the helical turns of the member 12 . alternatively , or in combination , an obturator type device 20 may be located within the helical member 12 ( the obturator may have been within the catheter and remains at the site , or it may be advanced after the catheter is withdrawn ). the obturator compresses the tissue against the turns of the coil . energy is then applied to the coil to cause minimal trauma to effect a healing response to generate collagen for plugging of the access site . as illustrated in fig6 c , after sufficient time passes , the obturator and coil are withdrawn from the site leaving the collagen plug to prevent bleeding . fig7 a - 7 c depict a variation of a loading device 30 according to the present invention . the loading device allows for advancement or loading of a helical member onto a catheter . in this variation , the device loads a helical member 12 onto a catheter located within the patient . however , variations of the loading member may be configured to load the coil onto a catheter prior to insertion into a patient . as shown , the loading tool 30 comprises a loading portion and a catheter attachment portion . the catheter attachment portion may have a split so that it can be secured to the catheter subsequent to insertion of the catheter 14 into the patient . fig7 a illustrates the helical member 12 with handle 28 as the helical member 12 is loaded onto the loading tool 30 . once a desired length of the helical member 12 advances onto the catheter 14 , the loading tool 30 may be removed . alternatively , the loading tool 30 may be configured to remain on the catheter 14 . in such a case , to enable loading of the helical member 12 onto the catheter , the helical member will be configured to be able to rotate independently of the loading tool 30 . fig7 c illustrates removal of the catheter 14 from the patient . fig8 illustrates another variation of the invention of the present invention . as shown , to incorporate the operation of the invention with most types of catheters , a helical member 12 may be loaded upon a delivery member 22 . the helical member 12 will reside either on or in the delivery member 22 such that , when needed , the delivery member may be coupled to a catheter 14 via a catheter slot or channel 24 . the slot or channel 24 may be sized for the particular catheter ( e . g ., to match the gauge or french size of the catheter tubing .) alternatively , the slot or channel 24 may be tapered to or otherwise accommodate a range of catheter tubing sizes . in one variation , the slot or channel 24 may have a locking mechanism ( e . g ., sized to press fit with the catheter , or a moveable flap , etc .) to allow the delivery member 22 to temporarily lock onto the catheter . the delivery member 22 may also have a handle portion 26 to allow for ease of manipulation by the medical practitioner . in some variations of the device , the handle may also be rotatable with respect to the catheter where the rotation drives the helical member 12 distally on the catheter . in another variation of the device , the delivery member 22 may contain a power supply to energize the helical member 12 to effectuate treatment . it is noted that variations of the invention include combining features of the device described above . for example , the guide wire , helical member , and / or obturator may be incorporated into one or more devices . moreover , the helical member may use any type of energy to heat the tissue ( e . g ., radio - frequency , resistive , laser , chemical , etc .) moreover , while the invention described herein may effect tissue closure using compression and heat , additives may also be incorporated . for example , the invention may also include the use of antibiotics , anti - inflammatories , anti - proliferatives , pain - killing medicines , heat - activated sealants / adhesives , polyethylene glycol , marking dyes , and / or other such medicines or additives . while this description is intended to convey to anyone practiced in the art a device and method for closing a pfo , it is not limited to this specific embodiment , as a person so skilled in the art may modify the device and / or method while still remaining within the scope of this invention .
devices and methods are described for sealing tissue such as melding the two flaps of the foramen ovale together without the need for a permanent implant or closing openings in vessels .