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The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for cutting filaments percutaneously. The methods and systems may be used in conjunction with sealing a puncture percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a fil

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for cutting filaments percutaneously. The methods and systems may be used in conjunction with sealing a puncture percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The present invention provides for safe filament cutting below the skin and may reduce the risk of cutting the filament distal of any knots.

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1. A percutaneous filament cutting device, comprising: a housing;an elongated hollow cutter guide defining a lumen and attached to and extending from the housing, the elongated cutter guide comprising: a sidewall defining an outer surface of the elongated cutter guide;a filament insertion slot defin

1. A percutaneous filament cutting device, comprising: a housing;an elongated hollow cutter guide defining a lumen and attached to and extending from the housing, the elongated cutter guide comprising: a sidewall defining an outer surface of the elongated cutter guide;a filament insertion slot defined in the sidewall and extending directly and proximally from a distal end of the elongated cutter guide;a guide slot defined in the sidewall at a location proximal of the distal end of the elongated cutter guide, the guide slot intersecting the filament insertion slot at an intersection point, the guide slot including a termination portion extending distal of the intersection point;an elongated cutter slidingly disposed in the housing and extending partially through the elongated cutter guide. 2. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member disposed between the elongated cutter and the housing, the biasing member biasing the elongated cutter to a first position. 3. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated cutter comprises an actuator tab extending through a hole in the housing for operating the elongated cutter. 4. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated cutter comprises a blade end and an actuator end, the actuator end comprising a tab extending outside of the housing. 5. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of the filament insertion slot extend in both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. 6. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the filament insertion slot includes a helical shape and the guide slot is arranged longitudinally on the elongated cutter guide. 7. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the intersection point of the filament insertion slot and the longitudinal guide slot forms an acute angle. 8. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a one-way door movable radially inward but not movable radially outward for caging a filament positioned in the filament insertion slot. 9. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a molded tip having the filament insertion slot and a one-way movable door, the molded tip further comprising: a tapered outer distal end abutting and flush with the elongated cutter guide;a radially inward taper configured to receive a suture filament having a diameter and leading to the lumen;the lumen having a diameter no more than three times the diameter of the suture filament. 10. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a molded tip having the filament insertion slot and a one-way movable door, the molded tip further comprising: a tapered outer distal end abutting and flush with the elongated cutter guide;a radially inward taper leading to the lumen;wherein the lumen comprises a diameter no more than approximately 0.35 mm. 11. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a one-way door movable radially inward but not movable radially outward for caging a filament positioned in the filament insertion slot;the one-way door comprising a cantilevered arm having a detent hinge. 12. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated cutter is coaxial with the elongated cutter guide. 13. A percutaneous cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated cutter and the elongated cutter guide comprise hollow tubes. 14. A suture path tracking and cutting device, comprising: a handle;a hollow shaft of defining a lumen and extending from the handle, the shaft having a first open end at a distal end of the shaft and comprising a cutting window and a first suture insertion slot, the cutting window intersecting the first suture insertion slot at a intersection point, the first suture insertion slot extending directly and proximally from the first open end and the cutting window having a distal termination portion arranged distal of the intersection point and proximal of the first open end;a cutting blade disposed in the shaft and biased to a first position;a tip attached to the shaft at the first open end, the tip having a second suture insertion slot substantially aligned with the first suture insertion slot, the tip further comprising a one-way door for caging a suture. 15. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the distal termination portion of the cutting window is configured to prevent inadvertent release of the suture from the cutting window to the first insertion slot. 16. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the cutting window comprises a capsule shape that is arranged longitudinally and open at a side thereof to the first insertion slot. 17. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the first suture insertion slot comprises a helical cut in the shaft. 18. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the first suture insertion slot comprises a helical cut of up to about 180° in the shaft. 19. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the one-way door comprises a cantilevered arm extending across the second insertion slot in a first position, the one-way door moveable radially inward from the first position but not radially outward from the first position. 20. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the one-way door comprises a compliant arm having a base, an inside surface, an outside surface, a detent at the base of the outside surface, and a protrusion at the base of the inside surface. 21. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 further comprising the suture and wherein an effective diameter of the lumen is no more than approximately three times the diameter of the suture. 22. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 further comprising the suture and wherein the suture has a diameter, the lumen configured to receive the suture, but too small for any knots formed in the suture that have a maximum dimension greater than the diameter of the suture to pass therethrough. 23. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14 wherein the cutting blade is disposed in the shaft proximal of the cutting window in the first position, the cutting blade being movable distally at least partially across the cutting window in response to a force applied thereto. 24. A suture path tracking and cutting device according to claim 14, further comprising an actuator tab connected to the cutting blade for moving the cutting blade within the shaft, the actuator tab extending outside of the handle. 25. An internal tissue puncture closure and cutting system, comprising: a closure device, the closure device comprising: a filament extending from a first end of the closure device to a second end of the closure device;an anchor for insertion through the tissue wall puncture attached to the filament at the second end of the closure device;a sealing plug slidingly attached to the filament adjacent to the anchor;a driving mechanism for tamping the sealing plug toward the second end;a filament cutting device insertable percutaneously into an incision for cutting the filament below a skin level, the filament cutting device comprising: an elongated hollow cutter guide defining a lumen and comprising: a sidewall defining an outer surface of the elongated cutter guide;a filament insertion slot defined in the sidewall and extending directly and proximally from a distal end of the elongated cutter guide;a guide slot defined in the sidewall at a location proximal of the distal end of the elongated cutter guide, the guide slot intersecting the filament insertion slot at an intersection point, the guide slot including a termination portion extending distal of the intersection point;an elongated cutter extending partially through the elongated cutter guide. 26. An internal tissue puncture closure system according to claim 25 wherein the filament cutting device further comprises a housing, the elongated cutter guide comprises a helical shape, and the guide slot is arranged longitudinally.