An apparatus for delivering a closure element to an opening formed in a wall of a body lumen or body tissue, comprising: a locator assembly having a distal end region configured to extend into said opening and to selectably engage said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue adjacent to said opening, said distal end region of said locator assembly including an expansion element configured to expand substantially transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locator assembly and being selectably controllable between an unexpanded state and an expanded state for engaging said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue; a carrier assembly coupled with said locator assembly, said carrier assembly including a tube set comprising a carrier member retaining said closure element in a substantially tubular configuration within said carrier assembly, and a cover member configured to retain said closure element in said tubular configuration within said carrier assembly prior to deployment, characterized in that the carrier assembly further comprises a pusher member adapted to deploy said closure element, wherein said carrier member, said pusher member and said cover member are provided as a plurality of nested, telescoping members with a common longitudinal axis, the pusher member having a proximal end region and a distal end region and being coupled with, and slidable relative to, the carrier member, and the cover element being coupled with, and slidable relative to, the pusher member; and means associated with said carrier assembly for causing relative motion between said carrier member and said pusher member; wherein said closure element is configured to engage at least a portion of said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue whereby said opening is drawn substantially closed. a locator assembly having a distal end region configured to extend into said opening and to selectably engage said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue adjacent to said opening, said distal end region of said locator assembly including an expansion element configured to expand substantially transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the locator assembly and being selectably controllable between an unexpanded state and an expanded state for engaging said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue; a carrier assembly coupled with said locator assembly, said carrier assembly including a tube set comprising a carrier member retaining said closure element in a substantially tubular configuration within said carrier assembly, and a cover member configured to retain said closure element in said tubular configuration within said carrier assembly prior to deployment, characterized in that the carrier assembly further comprises a pusher member adapted to deploy said closure element, wherein said carrier member, said pusher member and said cover member are provided as a plurality of nested, telescoping members with a common longitudinal axis, the pusher member having a proximal end region and a distal end region and being coupled with, and slidable relative to, the carrier member, and the cover element being coupled with, and slidable relative to, the pusher member; and means associated with said carrier assembly for causing relative motion between said carrier member and said pusher member; wherein said closure element is configured to engage at least a portion of said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue whereby said opening is drawn substantially closed.