Vascular Closure Device with Removable Guide Member

Abstract

A vascular closure device configured to seal a puncture site in the vessel wall in a more efficient manner is disclosed. The vascular closure device includes a guide member that extends through a portion of the sealing device and that is removable from the portion the sealing device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vascular closure device configured to be disposed along a guide wire toward a puncture of a vessel, the vascular closure device comprising:
 a sealing device configured to seal the puncture of the vessel;   a delivery assembly that releasably holds the sealing device; and   a moveable guide member supported by the delivery assembly, the moveable guide member being elongate along a longitudinal axis and that extends through at least a portion of the sealing device, the movable guide member including 1) a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis and that is sized and configured to receive the guide wire as the vascular closure device is positioned along the guide wire, and 2) a gripping member extends outwardly from the guide member, wherein a pulling force applied to the gripping member removes the moveable guide member from the sealing device.