An apparatus for delivering and deploying a closure element to an opening formed in a body lumen, including a delivery assembly positionable through the tissue and into the opening. The delivery assembly includes a distal locator portion and a carrier portion oriented proximal to the distal locator portion. The distal locator portion is configured to selectably engage the body lumen adjacent to the opening, and the carrier portion is configured to carry and support the closure element in a substantially tubular configuration. The carrier portion is further configured to urge the closure element toward an expanded cross-sectional dimension for deployment thereof, such that the closure element is oriented to engage the tissue when deployed and, when released, to return to the natural, substantially planar configuration and the natural cross-section dimension wherein the engaged tissue is drawn substantially closed.
