Hemostatic puncture closure system and method of use

A closure device for sealing a percutaneous incision or puncture formed in the body of a living being wherein the incision or puncture comprises an opening in the wall of a vessel, duct, lumen, or thin walled organ and a tract contiguous with the opening and extending through tissue to the surface of the skin of the being, the tract having an inner surface, said closure comprising:

• (a) a filament having a first portion and a second portion and being arranged to be extended through the tract and the wall of the vessel, duct, lumen, or hollow organ adjacent the opening in the wall thereof so that said first portion of said filament is within the interior of the vessel, duct, lumen or hollow organ and said second portion of said filament extends into the tract;
• and
• (b) a mass of material adapted be inserted into the tract and movable relative to said first portion of said filament to a predetermined position within the tract outside the wall of the vessel, duct, lumen, or hollow organ without ever entering into the vessel, duct, lumen or hollow organ, said mass of material when in said predetermined position extending proximally outside the wall of the vessel, duct, lumen, or hollow organ to engage the inner surface of the tract along a substantial length of the tract to fill a substantial portion of the tract, said mass of material being coupled to said second portion of said filament and being alterable within the tract to change to another state within the tract after insertion therein to inhibit the flow of fluid from the vessel, duct, lumen, or hollow organ through the tract.