Patent ID: 8579932

Claim:
A method for delivering a closure element to seal an opening through tissue beneath a patient's skin, the closure element being carried by a carrier assembly slidable on an outer surface of an elongate member, the elongate member comprising a sleeve member overlying at least a portion of the outer surface between the carrier assembly and a distal end of the elongate member and at least partially overlying the carrier assembly, the elongate member being provided with a locator member slidably associated therewith, said locator member having one or more expandable positioning elements on its distal portion, the method comprising: inserting the distal end of the elongate member through the patient's skin and into an opening through tissue; advancing the locator member distally from the distal end of the elongate member; expanding said one or more positioning elements; withdrawing said locator member until said positioning elements contact tissue; following locating said positioning elements in contact with the tissue, advancing the carrier assembly carrying the closure element towards the distal end of the elongate member from a location distal the patient's skin and distal the opening through tissue, the carrier assembly separating the sleeve member from the outer surface of the elongate member from a proximal end of the sleeve member toward a distal end of the sleeve member as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end; and deploying the closure element from the carrier assembly within the opening to substantially seal said opening, the closure element including one or more tines engaging the tissue and remaining within the tissue.