A new 11.5F over-the-wire vascular hemostasis device was compared to conventional manual compression in normal swine femoral arteries. Using percutaneous techniques, the collagen was deposited and hemostasis achieved in 7 vessels after 1 minute total, plus 4 minutes partial compression, while control manual compression required more than 5 minutes total compression to avoid hematoma formation. One month follow-up of treated arteries (n = 4) and controls (n = 3) showed no impairment in distal pulse or differences in histology at the puncture site in the control and treated arteries. Thus, the vascular hemostasis device technique is safe and effective, achieves hemostasis with less compression time and complications, and does not interfere with arterial wall healing or compromise the lumen.© 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.