Barrier device for covering the ostium of left atrial appendage

• US 6,652,555 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Atritech Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Holmes, David, Schwartz, Robert, Welch, Jeffrey, Sutton, Gregg S., VanTassel, Robert A., Hauser, Robert G., Borillo, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/642,291
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/1, 606/151, 606/108, 606/193, 606/191, 623/1, 623/11.11, 623/23.7, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12122 within the heart for closing a cardiac septal defect A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00628 T-shaped occluders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0103 With centering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

A membrane applied to the ostium of an atrial appendage is disclosed. The membrane prevents blood clots in the atrial appendage from escaping therefrom and entering the blood stream which can result in a blocked blood vessel, leading to strokes and heart attacks. The membrane may be permeable or impermeable with respect to blood flow. The membrane is configured to extend over the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The membrane has an outer periphery with a dimension larger than a corresponding dimension of the ostium. Securement means is provided to secure the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium. The securement means may located between the membrane and the atrial wall, or the securement means may extend distally from the membrane through the ostium.

Claims

1. A method of securing a membrane over an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient to prevent thrombus from leaving the left atrial appendage, comprising:

providing a membrane configured to extend over the ostium of the left atrial appendage, the membrane having an outer periphery with a dimension larger than a corresponding dimension of the ostium;

positioning the membrane over the ostium such that the outer periphery is in direct contact with an atrial wall surrounding the ostium; and

securing the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein securing the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises applying an adhesive between the outer periphery of the membrane and the atrial wall surrounding the ostium.

3. The method defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

providing a plurality of engagement members attached to the membrane at a plurality of locations about the outer periphery of the membrane,

wherein securing the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises piercing the atrial wall with the engagement members.

4. The method defined in claim 3, wherein providing a plurality of engagement members comprises providing a plurality of engagement members each having an elongated shank portion extending distally from the outer periphery of the membrane and defining a spacing substantially identical to an interior dimension of the ostium,

wherein securing the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises extending the elongated shank portions into the ostium.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein providing a plurality of engagement members comprises providing a plurality of engagement members each having a barbed portion configured to engage an interior wall of the atrial appendage,

wherein securing the outer periphery of the membrane to the atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises engaging the interior wall of the atrial appendage with the barbed portion.

6. The method defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

providing a securement structure extending distally from the membrane,

wherein securing the outer periphery of the membrane in direct engagement with the atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises inserting the securement structure into the ostium, and engaging an interior wall of the left atrial appendage with the securement structure.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the securement structure is configured for annular enlargement by inflation of an expansion structure, and

wherein engaging the interior wall of the left atrial appendage with the securement structure comprises enlarging the securement structure by expanding the expansion structure located in an interior of the securement structure.

8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the securement structure is resiliently biased in a enlarged configuration for engagement with the interior wall of the left atrial appendage and may be constrained in a reduced size configuration for installation in the left atrial appendage,

wherein positioning the membrane over the ostium such that the outer periphery is in direct contact with an atrial wall surrounding the ostium comprises constraining the securement structure in a reduced size, and

wherein engaging the interior wall of the left atrial appendage with the securement structure comprises allowing the securement structure to resiliently enlarge to the enlarged configuration.