Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes abioabsorbable sealing member secured to one end of a filament or otherretaining member. The sealing member is delivered through the puncture intothe vessel, and retracted against the wall of the vessel to provide temporaryhemostasis. The sealing member is rapidly absorbed after exposure within thevessel,e.g., to an aqueous or heated physiological environment (e.g., exposureto blood or body temperature), immediately or shortly after completing amedical procedure via the puncture, e.g., within the time period that thepatient is ambulatory.
