Method and apparatus for arteriotomy closure

An apparatus for sealing an arteriotomy site in a patient comprising:

• a. a first elongated flexible catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an external surface, and a wall portion defining at least one lumen extending substantially the entire length of said first catheter, and at least one opening through the external surface of said first catheter located adjacent the distal end, whereby a proximal end of at least one lumen is in fluid communication with the external surface of said first catheter via said opening;
• b. means located adjacent the distal end of said first catheter for temporarily occluding an intravascular opening of the arteriotomy site when said occluding means is positioned in an intravascular space of the patient's artery proximate to the arteriotomy site;
• c. a second elongated flexible catheter having a front end, a rear end, an outer surface a body portion, and a central bore defined by the body portion extending through the length of said second catheter communicating the front end with the rear end;
• d. means located on said second catheter for debriding subcutaneous tissue from an exterior surface of the anterior arterial wall proximate to the arteriotomy site;
• and
• e. means located on a selected one of said catheters for delivering a material to the arteriotomy site that is capable of forming a substantially fluid tight seal of the arteriotomy site.