Medical device for occluding a left atrial appendage

1 . A medical implant for occluding a left atrial appendage, comprising:

an expandable framework configured to shift between a first configuration and a second configuration;

wherein the expandable framework includes a proximal hub and a plurality of interconnected struts extending from the proximal hub and joined together at a plurality of strut intersections; and

an occlusive element disposed over the plurality of interconnected struts;

wherein the plurality of interconnected struts includes a first plurality of struts and a second plurality of struts;

wherein in the second configuration, the first plurality of struts each extend radially along a first strut path from the proximal hub to one of a first plurality of strut intersections and the first plurality of struts form a depression in the expandable framework opening in a proximal direction;

wherein in the second configuration, the second plurality of struts each extend radially along a second strut path from the proximal hub to one of a second plurality of strut intersections and are configured to prevent the occlusive element from deflecting into the depression formed by the first plurality of struts.

2 . The medical implant of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of strut intersections are disposed radially outward of the first plurality of strut intersections.

3 . The medical implant of claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of strut intersections are disposed proximate a radially outermost extent of the expandable framework in the second configuration.

4 . The medical implant of claim 3 , wherein each of the second plurality of struts are devoid of any other connections to the expandable framework between the proximal hub and the second plurality of strut intersections.

5 . The medical implant of claim 1 , wherein the first strut path extends distally from the proximal hub to a first curve and then proximally from the first curve to one of the first plurality of strut intersections.

6 . The medical implant of claim 5 , wherein the second strut path extends distally from the proximal hub to a first curve, proximally from the first curve to a second curve, distally from the second curve to a third curve, proximally from the third curve to a fourth curve coupled to one of the second plurality of strut intersections.

7 . The medical implant of claim 6 , wherein a distalmost extent of the first curve of the first strut path is disposed distal of a distalmost extent of the first curve of the second strut path.

8 . The medical implant of claim 6 , wherein the first curve of the first strut path is concave in a proximal direction and the second curve of the second strut path is concave in a distal direction such that the first curve of the first strut path opens toward a center of the second curve of the second strut path and the second curve of the second strut path opens toward a center of the first curve of the first strut path.

9 . The medical implant of claim 1 , wherein the first strut path, via an additional segment of the plurality of interconnected struts, continues from one of the first plurality of strut intersections to one of the second plurality of strut intersections to define an extended first strut path.

10 . The medical implant of claim 9 , wherein the extended first strut path, if straightened, defines a first length, and the second strut path, if straightened, defines a second length;

wherein the first length is substantially equal to the second length.

11 . The medical implant of claim 1 , wherein and the second plurality of struts extends proximally into the depression.

12 . A medical device system, comprising:

a catheter;

a core wire movably disposed within a lumen of the catheter; and

a medical implant for occluding a left atrial appendage releasably connected to a distal portion of the core wire;

wherein the medical implant includes an expandable framework configured to shift between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an occlusive element disposed over the expandable framework;

wherein the expandable framework includes a proximal hub and a plurality of interconnected struts extending from the proximal hub and joined together at a plurality of strut intersections;

wherein the plurality of interconnected struts includes a first plurality of struts and a second plurality of struts;

wherein in the second configuration, the first plurality of struts each extend radially along a first strut path from the proximal hub to one of a first plurality of strut intersections and the first plurality of struts form a depression in the expandable framework;

wherein in the second configuration, the second plurality of struts each extend radially along a second strut path from the proximal hub to one of a second plurality of strut intersections in order to prevent the occlusive element from deflecting into the depression formed by the first plurality of struts.

13 . The medical device system of claim 12 , wherein the expandable framework is disposed in the first configuration when the medical implant is disposed within the lumen of the catheter and the expandable framework is configured to shift toward the second configuration when the medical implant is disposed outside of the lumen of the catheter.

14 . The medical device system of claim 12 , wherein the medical implant includes a plurality of anchor members extending radially outward from the expandable framework in the second configuration.

15 . The medical device system of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the plurality of anchor members extend through the occlusive element.

16 . A medical implant for occluding a left atrial appendage, comprising:

an expandable framework configured to shift between a first configuration and a second configuration; and

an occlusive element disposed on the expandable framework;

wherein the expandable framework includes a proximal hub and a plurality of interconnected struts extending from the proximal hub and joined together at a plurality of strut intersections;

wherein the plurality of interconnected struts includes a first plurality of struts and a second plurality of struts;

wherein in the second configuration, the first plurality of struts forms a depression in the expandable framework defined by a radially inward boundary and a radially outward boundary, and the depression extends distally between the radially inward boundary and the radially outward boundary and opens in a proximal direction;

wherein in the second configuration, the second plurality of struts extends into the depression.

17 . The medical implant of claim 16 , wherein the depression has a depth measured distally from a plane coincident with a proximal end of the proximal hub and oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal hub;

wherein the second plurality of struts extends proximally within the depression to within 50% of the depth from the plane.

18 . The medical implant of claim 16 , wherein the second plurality of struts are integrally formed with the plurality of interconnected struts as a single monolithic structure.

19 . The medical implant of claim 16 , wherein the second plurality of struts are formed separately from the plurality of interconnected struts and subsequently fixedly attached thereto.