an elongated member defining a plurality of individual liquid-expandable articles, each of the liquid-expandable articles directly connected to each other at each of opposite ends, but separable from one another at their opposite ends, to define a length of the elongated member,

the elongated member expandable along its entire circumference,

a distal end of the elongated member received in the puncture wound such that a portion of the elongated member is retained within the puncture wound while still connected with another portion of the elongated member remaining outside the puncture wound, and

the plurality of individual liquid-expandable articles of the portion of the elongated member retained inside the wound releasing stored mechanical energy at their ends such that the liquid-expandable articles inside the puncture wound then separate from one another at their opposite ends upon contact with liquid inside the puncture wound and mechanically expand into expanded articles.