Abstract: Devices and methods are described for occluding the left atrial appendage (LAA). The device excludes the LAA from blood flow to prevent blood from clotting within the LAA and subsequently embolizing, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation. The implantable device is delivered via transcatheter delivery into the LAA and secured within the LAA. The implant comprises an expandable and compliant frame and an expandable and conformable tubular foam body carried by the frame. The device may have a thromboresistant cover at a proximal end and a thromboresistant coating on the foam body. The frame may have recapture struts inclining radially outwardly in the distal direction from a central hub. The frame may have axially extending side wall struts, with adjacent pairs of side wall struts joined at one or more apexes. Anchors extend from the frame to engage tissue. The anchors can also be reversible to allow retraction of the anchors and repositioning or retrieval of the device.

Abstract: A method for producing formed bodies from carbonaceous substances in which the starting materials are dry particles of synthetic graphite at least as fine as 20 mesh and dry particles of coal tar pitch at least as fine as 200 mesh. The synthetic graphite particles are intimately mixed with the coal tar pitch particles to form a mixture having about 4% to about 10% coal tar pitch and preferably about 6% to about 7% coal tar pitch. At least a portion of the mixture is then compressed under pressure sufficient to raise the temperature of the mixture to at least the softening point of the coal tar pitch. Pressure is maintained on the mixture for the period of time necessary to form a compact carbonaceous body having a volume at least equal to that of a sphere of 1/8 inch in diameter.