Apparatus and methods for occluding an anatomical structure
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for occluding an anatomical structure including an occlusion apparatus having first and second beams and at least one connector for connecting the respective ends of the beams together. The occlusion apparatus may be adapted for use in a deployment device having a pair of jaws and optionally having a respective pair of shuttle bodies for releasably connecting an occlusion apparatus to the jaws while in an open position and for releasing the occlusion device from the jaws while in a closed position. A system for occluding an anatomical structure is also disclosed that includes an occlusion apparatus and a deployment device for holding the occlusion apparatus in an open position for locating the occlusion device adjacent the anatomical structure to be occluded and then moving the occlusion apparatus to a closed position and locking the occlusion apparatus in the closed position.
1 . A left atrial appendage occlusion apparatus comprising:
a first beam including a first end, a second end, and a first tissue contact surface therebetween, wherein the first beam further comprises a first passageway that receives a first portion of a first resilient connector and a second, separate passageway that receives a first portion of a second resilient connector; and
a second beam including a first end, a second end, and a second tissue contact surface therebetween, wherein the second beam further comprises a first passageway that receives a second portion of the first resilient connector and a second, separate passageway that receives a second portion of the second resilient connector,
wherein the first resilient connector and the second resilient connector are configured to bias the first beam toward the second beam, and at least one of the first and second resilient connectors is fixed to the first beam at the first passageway, and
wherein a longitudinal axis of the first resilient connector is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first passageway when the occlusion apparatus is in a closed position.
2 . The occlusion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion apparatus is configured to atraumatically occlude the left atrial appendage.
3 . The occlusion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first beam and the second beam includes at least one of a surface coating, a texture, and a perforation configured to facilitate gripping of an anatomical structure between the first beam and the second beam.
4 . The occlusion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tissue contacting surface separates the first resilient connector and the second resilient connector.
5 . The occlusion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second tissue contacting surface separates the first resilient connector and the second resilient connector.
6 . A system comprising:
the occlusion apparatus of claim 1 ; and
a deployment device removably coupled to each of the first and second beams.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the deployment device is configured to transition the occlusion apparatus from a closed position to an open position.