Locator and closure device and method of use

1. A method for sealing a puncture, having an edge, in a wall of a lumen of a body comprising:

a) deploying a deployment member of a sealing device through an elastic tissue membrane adjacent an outer wall of the lumen and the puncture, wherein the sealing element is disposed within a distal portion of the deployment member and wherein the distal portion of the deployment member has a uniform diameter greater than the sealing element;

b) positioning, outside the lumen, a maximal radial diameter portion of the sealing element adjacent the outer wall of the lumen and the edge of the puncture;

c) retracting the deployment member relative to the sealing element while maintaining the uniform diameter of the deployment member to stretch the elastic membrane away from the wall of the lumen and allow the elastic membrane to engage the sealing element so as to urge the maximal radial diameter portion of the sealing element positioned outside the lumen towards the outer wall of the lumen and the edge of the puncture; and

d) retracting the device from the body to leave the maximal radial diameter portion of the sealing element outside the lumen adjacent the outer wall and the edge of the puncture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic membrane is a fascia.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fascia comprises a portion of a femoral sheath.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the lumen of the body comprises a femoral artery.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is positioned between the membrane and the wall of the lumen when the membrane engages the sealing element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element partially protrudes from the membrane when the membrane engages the sealing element.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein membrane retains the sealing element at a desired position adjacent the wall of the lumen.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the membrane urges the sealing element against the wall of the lumen.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element further includes an indicator wire having a distal tip; and further comprising the steps of extending the indicator wire out of the deployment member when the sealing element is deployed through the puncture; adjusting the position of the sealing element until the indicator wire is adjacent to the edge of the puncture; and retracting the indicator wire into the device.

10. A method for sealing a puncture, having an edge, in a wall of a lumen of a body comprising:

a) deploying a deployment member of a sealing device through an elastic membrane adjacent the wall of the lumen and the puncture, wherein the deployment member is a single tubular member carrying a sealing element, wherein the sealing element is disposed within a distal portion of the deployment member and wherein the distal portion of the deployment member has a uniform diameter greater than the sealing element;

b) positioning the sealing element within the lumen;

c) withdrawing the sealing element outside the lumen adjacent the wall of the lumen;

d) frictionally engaging the membrane with the deployment member;

e) retracting the deployment member relative to the sealing element while maintaining the uniform diameter of the deployment member to stretch the membrane away from the wall of the lumen;

f) disengaging the deployment member from the membrane; and

g) retracting the device from the body to leave the sealing element adjacent the wall of the lumen.

11. A method for positioning a sealing element adjacent a puncture, having an edge, in a wall of a lumen of a body comprising:

a) deploying a deployment member of a sealing device through an elastic membrane adjacent the wall of the lumen and the puncture, wherein the deployment member is a single tubular member carrying a sealing element;

b) positioning the sealing element carried by the sealing device adjacent the wall of the lumen, wherein the sealing element is configured to be disposed between the wall of the lumen and the elastic membrane when the elastic membrane is elastically displaced, wherein the sealing element is disposed within a distal portion of the deployment member and wherein the distal portion of the deployment member has a uniform diameter greater than the sealing element;

c) retracting the deployment member while maintaining the uniform diameter of the deployment member to elastically displace the elastic membrane away from the wall of the lumen;

d) deploying the sealing element by releasing it from the sealing device;

e) disengaging the deployment member from the elastic membrane, wherein the elastic membrane elastically urges the sealing member against the wall of the lumen; and

f) retracting the device from the body to leave the sealing element adjacent the wall of the lumen.