AORTIC CLOSURE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

1 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . A tamper, comprising:

a tamper body that is elongate along a longitudinal direction, the tamper body defining a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an outer surface;

a tamper channel that extends from the proximal end to the distal end along the longitudinal direction, the tamper channel configured to receive a suture assembly therethrough,

at least one first cut at the distal end and that extends from the outer surface toward the tamper channel; and

at least one second cut at the distal end opposite the first cut and that extends from the outer surface toward the tamper channel, wherein the at least one first cut and the least one second cut are configured to permit the distal end of the tamper to flex.

9 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the at least one first cut and the at least one second cut are configured to permit the distal end to flex more readily along a first plane than a second plane that is perpendicular to and intersects the first plane.

10 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the at least one first cut and the at least one second cut extend only partially around the outer surface.

11 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the first cuts and the second cut are separated by a portion of the outer surface.

12 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the at least one first cut is a set of first cuts, and the least one second cut is a set of second cuts, wherein the set of first cuts and the set of second cuts are offset with respect to each other along the longitudinal direction.

13 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the first cut is configured to open and the second cut is configured to compress when the tamper flexes along the plane.

14 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are slits.

15 . The tamper of claim 8 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are spiral cuts.

16 . A method for sealing a puncture of an artery, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a tamper that extends through at least a portion of a sealing element along a guidewire in a distal direction toward the puncture, the sealing element being coupled to a suture assembly, and, wherein a deployment assembly supports the tamper and releasably holds the sealing element;

inserting the deployment assembly through the puncture of the artery;

during a first phase, actuating an actuator of the deployment assembly in a first direction until the deployment assembly releases the sealing element therefrom while remaining coupled to the suture assembly;

during a second phase, actuating the actuator in a second direction until the tamper moves in the distal direction toward contact with the sealing element; and

during a third phase, actuating the actuator in the first direction until the tamper moves in a proximal direction that is opposite the distal direction and releases the suture assembly from the sealing element.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuating step of the first phase further comprises moving at least one of a release component and a delivery component of the deployment assembly in a distal direction to release the sealing element from the at least one of the release component and the delivery component.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuating step of the second phase further comprises moving the tamper in the distal direction against the sealing element places the suture assembly in tension and urges the sealing element against a distal end of the deployment assembly such that the sealing element is oriented in a sealing position.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuating step of the third phase further comprises retracting the tamper and releasing a releasable splice of the suture assembly, thereby releasing the sealing element.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:

guiding a procedure sheath along the guidewire and into the puncture,

advancing a dilator over the guidewire such that the dilator enters the procedure sheath,

removing the procedure sheath,

inserting an access sheath of the deployment assembly over the dilator until the access sheath extends through the puncture, and

removing the dilator.