Patent ID: 7316704

Claim:
A method for sealing a puncture extending from a patient's skin to a body lumen, comprising: introducing a distal end of an occlusion member into the puncture with an expandable member thereon in a collapsed state until the expandable member is disposed within the body lumen; expanding the expandable member to an expanded state within the body lumen; placing a foot of a tensioner against the patient's skin adjacent the puncture, the tensioner comprising a shaft extending from the foot, and a saddle movable along the shaft towards the foot and biased to move away from the foot; directing the saddle along the shaft towards the foot to reduce a distance between the saddle and the foot; connecting the saddle to a proximal end of the occlusion member; and releasing the saddle, whereupon the saddle automatically moves away from the foot, thereby applying a proximal force on the occlusion member to hold the expandable member against a wall of the body lumen and substantially seal the puncture from the body lumen.