Korean Researchers Develop Smart Plug That Automatically Seals Vascular Punctures

Korean researchers have developed a next-generation medical device that stably seals vascular punctures and promotes hemostasis by regulating blood flow.

Yonsei University Medical Center announced on the 6th that a joint research team led by Professor Sung Hak-joon of Yonsei University College of Medicine's Department of Medical Engineering, Professor Cho Sung-woo of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Professor Joo Hyun-chul of Severance Hospital's Department of Cardiovascular Surgery has created a vascular closure device that automatically seals punctures commonly occurring during vascular procedures and accelerates hemostasis.

Most cardiovascular treatment procedures involve inserting a thin tube (catheter) into blood vessels. This process inevitably creates punctures in vascular walls, which can cause serious complications including bleeding if not properly sealed. Vascular closure devices are used to seal these punctures. However, current devices show significant performance variation depending on operator proficiency. Initial misplacement makes repositioning difficult, and stability decreases with larger puncture diameters.

Blood vessels not only serve as pathways for blood flow but also regulate overall flow patterns including blood pressure. This is why sealing technology must consider healthy blood flow maintenance and vascular structural stability beyond simple hemostasis.

The research team developed a vascular wall plug that physically seals punctures from outside the vessel while promoting hemostasis by regulating blood flow from inside. The device uses shape-memory polymer, which autonomously unfolds and wraps around vascular punctures at body temperature, creating a strong seal. Because the plug fits precisely into the vascular wall puncture, stable procedures are possible even with less experienced medical staff. The team installed curved wings on the portion entering the puncture to promote hemostasis. Platelets collide with the device and aggregate, rapidly forming a platelet plug.

The research team created 6mm punctures in pig thoracic aortas and installed vascular wall plugs to analyze effectiveness. Tissue biopsy one month post-procedure showed vascular tissue regeneration comparable to conventional suturing.

"The vascular wall plug goes beyond simply blocking punctures physically—it technically induces platelet aggregation, a biological response in our body, to enhance hemostasis efficiency," said Professor Sung Hak-joon. "Through large animal experiments simulating actual human femoral arteries, we confirmed that the hemostatic device shows no difference from surgical suturing methods in both hemostatic effect and histological vascular recovery."

The research findings were published in the latest issue of the international journal Bioactive Materials.