Patent ID: 8911472

Claim:
A method for sealing a blood vessel penetration disposed at the end of a tissue tract, comprising: providing an apparatus including a shaft having an axis, an occlusion element, and a hemostatic implant, having a crescent-shaped cross-section, asymmetrically mounted relative to the axis on an exterior surface of the shaft; introducing the shaft through the tissue tract to concurrently position both the occlusion element and the hemostatic implant in a lumen of the blood vessel, wherein the hemostatic implant is covered by a protective sleeve while the shaft is being introduced; deploying the occlusion element to inhibit blood flow from the blood vessel into the tissue tract; retracting the apparatus to seat the deployed occlusion element against the blood vessel penetration and to position the hemostatic implant within the tissue tract; retracting the protective sleeve to expose the hemostatic implant, wherein the hemostatic implant hydrates and expands laterally to release from one side of the exterior surface of the shaft to facilitate withdrawal of the shaft and occlusion element past the expanded hemostatic implant; collapsing the occlusion element; and withdrawing the shaft and collapsed occlusion element past the hemostatic implant which remains in the tissue tract to completely biodegrade therein over a period of time to leave no material behind, wherein the shaft and the hemostatic implant have been advanced through the tissue tract prior to deploying the occlusion element.