Atrial Appendage Occlusion and Arrhythmia Treatment

Abstract

Atrial appendage occlusion devices and arrhythmia treatment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 441,627, filed Feb. 10, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0002]All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]Atrial fibrillation (“AF”) is an arrhythmia of the heart that results in a rapid and chaotic heartbeat, producing lower cardiac output and irregular and turbulent blood flow in the vascular system. The left atrial appendage (“LAA”) is a cavity extending from the lateral wall of the left atrium between the mitral valve and the root of the left pulmonary veins. The LAA normally contracts with the rest of the left atrium during a normal heart cycle...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]One aspect of the disclosure is an implantable cardiac orifice occlusion and arrhythmia treatment device, comprising: an anchoring portion adapted to anchor the device in place adjacent a cardiac orifice; a barrier element secured to the anchoring portion and adapted to cover the orifice when implanted, and adapted to prevent blood clots from passing through the barrier element; and an arrhythmia treatment element secured to at least one of the anchoring portion and the barrier element, the treatment element adapted to treat a detected cardiac arrhythmia.

Problems solved by technology

Atrial fibrillation (“AF”) is an arrhythmia of the heart that results in a rapid and chaotic heartbeat, producing lower cardiac output and irregular and turbulent blood flow in the vascular system.

The LAA normally contracts with the rest of the left atrium during a normal heart cycle, keeping blood from becoming stagnant therein, but often fails to contract with any vigor in patients experiencing AF due to the discoordinate electrical signals associated with AF.

The result is that blood tends to pool in the LAA, which can lead to the formation of blood clots therein.

Since blood from the left atrium and ventricle supply the heart and brain, blood clots from the LAA can obstruct blood flow thereto, causing heart attacks, strokes, or other organ ischemia.

The effectiveness of warfarin, however, is challenged due to serious side effects, lack of patient compliance in taking the medication, a narrow therapeutic window, and an increased risk of bleeding.

Studies, however, have shown these techniques produce inconsistent results.

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