A device is disclosed foi providing an indication as to the relative position of a vessel or aiteiy opening thereby facilitating the choice of which suturing or plugging technique to thereafter use. A disclosed device includes an outei tube and a collapsible foot slidably disposed within a distal end of the outei tube The foot is connected to a shaft that passes through the tube and exits a proximal end thereof The device may further include one or more threaded suture needles, a biodegradable plug or1 other wound closing device that is connected to another shaft The collapsed or1 folded foot is pushed distally out of the tube and through the opening in the vessel whereupon the foot expands Pulling the expanded foot in the proximal direction provides an indication as to the orientation of the opening in the vessel, which assists in determining the type of closing procedure to be carried out The shaft connected to the foot is preferably connected to an indicator that indicates to the operator or physician that the vessel opening is in one of three positions on the vessel - left, top or right As an alternative, the indicator bar may indicate a relative position in degrees, mm ot μm in deviation from a top stick (or1 top position)