Atritech, Inc.

Cordis Corporation

Angioguard, Inc.

Thomas E Borillo

Gregg Stuart Sutton

Jeffrey M Welch

Robert G Hauser

David Holmes

Robert A VanTassel

Robert Schwartz

Dean A Peterson

Jay Yadav

Mark Maciejewski

Amy Raatikka

Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g., an expansion balloon, to pass therethrough, and wherein the opening is resiliently biased towards the first size.

Filter apparatus for ostium of left atrial appendage

Implant devices for filtering blood flowing through the ostium of an atrial appendage have component structures one or more of which are expandable. Devices with component structures in their unexpanded state have a compact size suitable for intra-cutaneous delivery to an atrial appendage situs. The expandable component structures are expanded in situ to deploy the devices. A device may have sufficiently short axial length so that most or almost all of the device length may fit within the ostium region.

Expandable implant devices for filtering blood flow from atrial appendages

Implant devices for filtering blood flowing through the ostium of an atrial appendage have component structures one or more of which are expandable. Devices with component structures in their unexpanded state have a compact size suitable for intra-cutaneous delivery to an atrial appendage situs. The expandable component structures are expanded in situ to deploy the devices. A device may have sufficiently short axial length so that most or almost all of the device length may fit within the ostium region. An expandable component structure in the device may include a blood-permeable filter element. The device may be deployed so that this component structure covers the ostium so as to direct the blood flow to pass through the filter element. The filter elements used in the devices may have hole size distributions selected to filter out harmful-size emboli. The filter elements may be embedded in elastic material so that hole-size distributions remain substantially unaffected by expansion of the device structures. Anchors attached to a component structure engage tissue surrounding the device and maintain the devices in position. The anchors may include inflatable anchors which engage interior walls of the atrial appendage.

Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure comprising a plurality of fingers which are radially outwardly expandable with respect to a longitudinal axis to permanently engage the interior wall of the left atrial appendage, wherein the filtering membrane is attached to the support structure extending across the ostium of the left atrial appendage.

A removable vascular filter system for capture and retrieval of emboli while allowing continuous perfusion of blood, comprising a porous filter membrane and a filter membrane support structure. This system is useful for any percutaneous angioplasty, stenting, thrombolysis or tissue ablation procedure. The system may minimize the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction or other clinical complications that may be associated with these procedures.

Vascular filter system

The invention provides a delivery system for placing devices in atrial appendages. The system includes a catheterization apparatus having a tubular structure with one or more nested tubes, wires, and shafts. The tubes establish a passageway for moving a device through a body's vasculature and heart into an atrial appendage. An expandable positioning guide is disposed on the distal end of a tube passing through the apparatus. The positioning guide is expanded in situ to engage atrial wall surfaces proximate to the atrial appendage for mechanical support. The deployed positioning guide mechanically stabilizes the device delivery passageway. A shaft passing through the tubes transports the device through the passageway to the atrial appendage. The system includes catheterization apparatus for transseptal delivery of the devices. An outer tube or sheath in the apparatus is used to penetrate and traverse the septum. An expandable securement device is disposed toward an end of the sheath. The securement device is expanded in situ to engage surface portions of the traversed septum to restrain further inadvertent movement of the septum-traversing sheath.

Apparatus for implanting devices in atrial appendages

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.

Barrier device for covering the ostium of left atrial appendage

A removable vascular filter system for blocking micro- and macro-emboli while allowing the continued perfusion of blood comprises a filter membrane positioned on a guidewire, wherein a free end of the membrane sits tightly against the guidewire when the filter membrane is in a collapsed state and wherein the filter has a means for deploying the filter membrane to assume a position substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the guidewire. The filter membrane is comprised of a fine mesh material which has a pore size capable of blocking emboli while allowing continued blood flow, a preferred embodiment of which comprises regularly spaced, laser-formed holes.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Thomas E Borillo