System and method for facilitating hemostasis of blood vessel punctures with absorbable sponge

A device for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture in the wall of a blood vessel, the device comprising:

• a delivery cannula for delivery of a sponge pledget into a patient to seal a puncture;
• a pusher positioned in a proximal end of the delivery cannula for ejection of the pledget from the delivery cannula into the patient to seal the puncture;
• and
• a staging chamber having a first end removably connectable to a distal end of the delivery cannula for hydrating the sponge pledget and delivering the sponge pledget to the delivery cannula, the staging chamber having a lumen diameter which is larger than a lumen diameter of the delivery cannula.

A staging system for hydrating a sponge pledget, the system comprising:

• a staging chamber having an open lumen with a tapered section at a first end;
• and
• a connector attachable to a second end of the staging chamber for connecting a syringe to the staging chamber, the connector comprising:
• a connector body having a central lumen, a first end for connection to the staging chamber, and a second end for connection to a syringe;
• a releaseable coupling for coupling the first end of the connector body to the staging chamber;
• and
• a sealing mechanism for forming a substantially fluid tight seal between the first end of the connector and the staging chamber.

A device for facilitating hemostasis of a puncture in the wall of a blood vessel, the device comprising:

• a delivery cannula for delivery of a sponge pledget into a patient to seal a puncture;
• a pusher positioned in a proximal end of the delivery cannula for ejection of the pledget from the delivery cannula into the patient to seal the puncture;
• and
• a staging chamber having a first end removably connectable to the delivery cannula, the staging chamber having a valve with a first position for hydrating the sponge pledget and a second position for delivering the sponge pledget to the delivery cannula, the staging chamber having a lumen diameter which is larger than a lumen diameter of the delivery cannula.