the protective sleeve 123 the key 126 fig1 and 2 may be axially advanced to engage the latching element 120 as illustrated in fig3 the key 126 fits inside of the protective sleeve 123 and depresses or radially contracts the latch element 120 so that it fits within the interior circumference of the stop ring 124 thus allowing proximal retraction of the protective sleeve 123 as shown in fig4 once the key 126 has engaged and constrained the latch element 120 as shown in fig3 the protective sleeve 123 may be proximally withdrawn past the hemostatic implant 121 and the backstop 127 as shown in fig4 thus the hemostatic implant 121 will be released from constraint and exposed to the environment in the tissue tract the environment in the tissue tract will include blood and other body fluids which can hydrate the hemostatic implant 121 causing swelling as shown in fig4 the swelling will continue as shown in fig5 and the radially expanded occlusion element 90 can be collapsed using the handle assembly as shown in fig5 the collapsed occlusion element 90 can then be proximally withdrawn into distal receptacle 128 of the backstop assembly 127 as shown in fig6 where an annular space may be provided to accommodate the occlusion element when the occlusion element has been fully withdrawn within the backstop 127 the hemostatic implant is completely released as shown in fig6 and the remaining portions of the sealing apparatus can be pulled away from the hemostatic.