A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutan eously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living be ing with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for a tamping device that is coilable in some configurations and stiff and straight in other configuratio ns. The coilable tamping device may also automatically tamp the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic uncoi ling and tamping is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by t he withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping force.
