VERSCHLUSSZAPFEN ZUM ABDICHTEN VON PUNKTIONSWUNDEN

2121336 9308743 PCTABS00021 Closure devices (100, 200, 300) and methods of use for sealing a small, e.g., percutaneous, incisions or punctures (28). The closure device (100, 200, 300) may take many forms and basically comprises a somewhat elongated plug (102, 306) having a deformable distal end portion (108, 310) including a free end (112, 308) to which a thin retraction filament (104, 304) is connected. The closure device (100, 200, 300) is arranged to be introduced into the body of the being through the incision or puncture (28) by an introducer (122) so that the distal portion (108, 310) of the plug is located on one side of said tissue and its proximal portion (110, 312) is located on the other side of that tissue, with the filament (104, 304) extending through the incision or puncture. The filament (104, 304) is arranged to be grasped and pulled in the proximal direction to deform the distal portion (108, 310) of the plug so that it cannot pass back through the incision or puncture (28), whereupon the puncture or incision is sealed by the deformed distal portion (108, 310) of the plug (100, 200, 300). The distal portion (108, 310) of the plug (100, 200, 300) is non-hemostatic so that when the closure (100, 200, 300) is used to seal an incision or puncture (28) in a blood vessel (24) it will not produce any blood clots within the vessel (24).