Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture

1. A method for sealing an arteriotomy in a vessel, the method comprising:

positioning an apparatus relative to an arteriotomy, the apparatus comprising:

a positioning assembly comprising an elongate member and a positioning element at a distal portion of the elongate member;

a sealant disposed at a distal portion of the positioning assembly;

a support tube proximal to the sealant; and

a positioning assembly retraction lock provided in a first position that prevents the positioning assembly from moving proximally relative to the support tube;

exposing the sealant;

tamping the sealant by distally advancing the support tube, wherein distal advancement of the support tube moves the positioning assembly retraction lock to a second position that allows at least a portion of the positioning assembly to move proximally relative to the support tube;

retracting the positioning element from the sealant by withdrawing at least a portion of the positioning assembly proximally while the support tube maintains the position of the sealant; and

retracting the positioning assembly and the support tube from the arteriotomy, leaving the sealant to seal the arteriotomy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the apparatus relative to the arteriotomy comprises:

inserting a distal end of the apparatus into the arteriotomy until the positioning element is within the vessel having the arteriotomy; and

withdrawing the positioning element within the vessel until the positioning element abuts the arteriotomy.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

expanding the positioning element prior to withdrawing the positioning element within the vessel; and

reducing a cross-section of the positioning element prior to retracting the positioning element from the sealant.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

locking the positioning element in an expanded state prior to withdrawing the positioning element within the vessel; and

unlocking the positioning element to allow the cross-section of the positioning element to be reduced prior to reducing the cross-section of the positioning element.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sealant is exposed by retracting a sheath relative to the sealant.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are performed in the order recited.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein retracting the positioning element from the sealant occurs after tamping the sealant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a handle and the handle is configured such that tamping the sealant can be performed using a single hand.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein tamping the sealant is performed by actuating a support tube actuator.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein actuating the support tube actuator moves the positioning assembly retraction lock to the second position.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein retracting the positioning element is performed by actuating a positioning assembly retraction actuator.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the positioning assembly retraction actuator is prevented when the positioning assembly retraction lock is in the first position.

13. A method for sealing an arteriotomy in a vessel, the method comprising:

inserting a distal end of an apparatus into an arteriotomy, the apparatus comprising:

a positioning assembly comprising an elongate member and a positioning element at a distal portion of the elongate member;

a sealant disposed at a distal portion of the positioning assembly;

a support tube proximal to the sealant; and

a positioning assembly retraction lock provided in a first position that prevents the positioning assembly from moving proximally relative to the support tube;

wherein the positioning element is positioned within the vessel having the arteriotomy;

expanding the positioning element;

locking the positioning element in an expanded state;

withdrawing the positioning element within the vessel until the positioning element abuts the arteriotomy;

exposing the sealant;

tamping the sealant by distally advancing the support tube, wherein distal advancement of the support tube moves the positioning assembly retraction lock to a second position that allows at least a portion of the positioning assembly to move proximally relative to the support tube;

unlocking the positioning element to allow a cross-section of the positioning element to be reduced;

reducing the cross-section of the positioning element;

retracting the positioning element from the sealant by withdrawing at least a portion of the positioning assembly proximally while the support tube maintains the position of the sealant; and

retracting the positioning assembly and the support tube from the arteriotomy, leaving the sealant to seal the arteriotomy.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sealant is exposed by retracting a sheath relative to the sealant.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the steps are performed in the order recited.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein retracting the positioning element from the sealant occurs after tamping the sealant.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises a handle and the handle is configured such that tamping the sealant can be performed using a single hand.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein tamping the sealant is performed by actuating a support tube actuator.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein actuating the support tube actuator moves the positioning assembly retraction lock to the second position.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein retracting the positioning element is performed by actuating a positioning assembly retraction actuator.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein actuating the positioning assembly retraction actuator is prevented when the positioning assembly retraction lock is in the first position.