Vascular closure device with improved side loading

A tissue puncture closure device adapted for insertion into and sealing of a tissue puncture in a tissue wall, the tissue puncture closure device comprising:

• a sealing plug delivery member, comprising:
• a carrier tube having a tube slot extending through a sidewall of the carrier tube and extending proximally from a distal end of the carrier tube;
• a sealing plug positioned in the carrier tube and having a lumen and a plug slot extending through a sidewall of the sealing plug, the plug slot extending along a length of the sealing plug and at least a portion thereof being aligned radially with the tube slot;
• a locking member controlling passage of an elongate locator member through the tube slot;
• a placement member positioned in the carrier tube at a location proximal of the sealing plug, the placement member operable to position the sealing plug adjacent to the tissue puncture.

A method of sealing a vessel puncture in a wall of a vessel that is accessible through a percutaneous incision, the method comprising:

• providing a closure device and a vessel locator, the closure device including a sealing plug and a carrier tube, the carrier tube including a tube slot formed in a sidewall thereof, and the sealing plug including a plug slot formed in a sidewall thereof, the sealing plug being positioned in the carrier tube;
• advancing the vessel locator through the percutaneous incision and into the vessel puncture;
• anchoring the vessel locator within the vessel;
• laterally inserting the vessel locator through the tube slot and the plug slot;
• advancing the closure device along the vessel locator to the vessel puncture;
• depositing the sealing plug adjacent to the vessel puncture to seal the vessel puncture.