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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Implant devices for modifying blood flow between an atrial appendage and its associated atrium, are customized for use in subject atrial appendages. The implant devices are tailored to uniquely match individual anatomical characteristics. Cardiac imaging techniques are used to obtain data on the size, shape and orientation of the subject atrial appendage. The raw imaging data is electronically processed using computer modeling to obtain multi-dimensional anatomical images of the subject atrial appendages. Three-dimensional computer aided design tools are used to generate customized device designs from the anatomical images of the subject atrial appendages.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.