Method and device for left atrial appendage occlusion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS.
1-3 show an embodiment of an occluding device 10 having features of the invention where an occluding member 11 is secured to a retention member 12 that is arranged to fix the occluding member in a desired position within a body passageway or cavity.
The occluding member 11 generally has disc shape with an outer rim 13 around the perimeter of a frame structure 14 which supports a barrier 15.
The outer rim 13 can be circular or polygonal, or any other shape that is suitable for conforming to the inside surface of a body cavity.
A hub 16 can be located near the center of the occluding member 11 which serves to connect the retention member 12 to the occluding member, in addition to other functions.
The outer rim 13 is typically made from a soft polymer material 17 which permits flexibility of the outer rim and facilitates sealing of the outer rim against the inside surface of a body cavity or passageway.
The barrier 15 can be a thin mesh or film of material which serves to block the passage of material within an area surrounded by the outer rim 13.
The barrier 15 can be secured to the outer rim 13 along its entire perimeter 18 in order to achieve a complete seal therebetween and can be molded into the outer rim 13 or bonded thereto by a suitable method such as gluing, welding, sewing or other suitable method.
The outer rim 13 is at least partially supported by the frame structure 14 which connects the outer rim and the hub.
The frame structure 14 can be made from one or more elements of high strength material such as stainless steel or MP35N, or may preferably be made from shape memory or pseudoelastic alloys such as NiTi.
Preferably, the frame structure 14 is made from a material which can be self expanding from a constrained configuration so that the occluding device 10 can be delivered to the deployment site in a low profile an flexible configuration which facilitates percutaneous delivery.
Preferably a radial hoop 21 is contained within the soft polymer material 17 of the outer rim 13 and serves to maintain the annular shape of the outer rim and facilitate radial expansion of the outer rim from a constrained position or configuration