Left Atrial Appendage Occluder Device

NU 2011-077

Inventors

Richard Lee

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the second leading cause of stroke in the United States. In greater than 90% of cases where a blood clot is found in an AF patient, the clot develops in the left atrial appendage (LAA). A Northwestern researcher designed a device that reduces the formation of blood clots in the LAA, and also lessens the chance that a blood clot will transfer out of the LAA if formed. The device is comprised of two pieces, an expandable sponge-like material that blocks-off the LAA so that blood clots cannot form, and a caged valve that prevents the transfer of clots from the LAA if formed. The device is implantable in patients via open-heart surgery, via transeptal catheterization, or by a retrograde approach. The device can be used alone or as a supplement to Coumadin therapy.

Applications

• Prevention of stroke in patients with AF

Advantages

• Occlusion, rather than excision, of the LAA helps patients in congestive heart failure since excision leads to a reduction of naturally occurring diuretics and results in fluid retention.
• Occlusion, rather than excision, of the LAA may be completed by non-open-heart procedure.
• Occlusion, rather than exclusion via stapler or suture methods, of the LAA may be completed by non-open-heart procedure.
• Competitive devices filter clots from the outflow from the LAA. Occlusion, rather than filtering, leads to reduced chances of clot formation and therefore also reduces the need for Coumadin therapy.