Inflatable atrial appendage occlusion apparatus and methods

1. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus for use with an atrial appendage having an exterior surface and inner surfaces, the occlusion apparatus comprising:

an inflatable body defining an interior volume and an inner surface that defines and completely surrounds a compression region that is sized and shaped to receive the atrial appendage and to extend completely around the atrial appendage when the inflatable body is in a deflated state and that is sized and shaped to compress the atrial appendage exterior surface and force the atrial appendage inner surfaces against one another, thereby occluding the atrial appendage, when the inflatable body is in an inflated state; and

a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body and in fluid communication with the interior volume.

2. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable body defines a stiffness, the occlusion apparatus further comprising:

at least one support member that is stiffer than the inflatable body and is located on a portion of the inflatable body that is opposite the compression region.

3. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein

the inflatable body defines an outer perimeter;

the support member extends around the outer perimeter; and

the support member is movable between an expanded state and a compressed state and is biased to the expanded state.

4. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

tissue in-growth material on the inflatable body.

5. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus for use with an atrial appendage having an exterior surface and inner surfaces, the occlusion apparatus comprising:

an inflatable body including first and second elongate linear hollow tubes and defining an interior volume and an inner surface that surrounds a compression region that is located between the elongate linear hollow tubes and is sized and shaped to receive the atrial appendage when the inflatable body is in a deflated state and that is sized and shaped to compress the atrial appendage exterior surface and force the atrial appendage inner surfaces against one another, thereby occluding the atrial appendage, when the inflatable body is in an inflated state; and

a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body and in fluid communication with the interior volume.

6. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein

the elongate linear hollow tubes define circular cross-sections.

7. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes each define a stiffness, the occlusion apparatus further comprising:

first and second support members are stiffer than the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes and are respectively located on portions of the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes that are opposite the compression region.

8. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes define respective lengths; and

the first and second support members define respective lengths that are equal to the lengths of the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes.

9. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus for use with an atrial appendage having an exterior surface and inner surfaces, the apparatus comprising:

a self-sealing valve; and

means, operably connected to the self-sealing valve, for completely surrounding the atrial appendage and thereafter applying a compression pressure to the atrial appendage exterior surface that is sufficient to force the atrial appendage inner surfaces into contact with one another and occlude the atrial appendage in response to a receipt of fluid by way of the self-sealing valve.

10. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the means for completely surrounding the atrial appendage and thereafter applying a compression pressure defines a stiffness and a compression region, the apparatus further comprising:

at least one support member that is stiffer than the means for completely surrounding the atrial appendage and thereafter applying a compression pressure located on a portion of the means for applying a compression pressure opposite the compression region.

11. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

tissue in-growth material on the means for completely surrounding the atrial appendage and thereafter applying a compression pressure.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

surrounding all sides of an atrial appendage with an inflatable apparatus in a deflated state; and

after the surrounding step, occluding the atrial appendage by inflating the inflatable apparatus and applying a compression pressure to the exterior surface of the atrial appendage with the inflated inflatable apparatus.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein

the inflatable apparatus includes a self-sealing valve; and

surrounding all sides of the atrial appendage comprises surrounding all sides of the atrial appendage with a removable inflation tool located within the self-sealing valve.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

after the inflating step, removing the inflation tool from the self-sealing valve.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the step of:

promoting tissue in-growth into a portion of the inflatable apparatus.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

compressing the inflatable apparatus; and

allowing the compressed inflatable apparatus to return to an expanded state to which it is biased.

17. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus for use with an atrial appendage having an exterior surface and inner surfaces, the occlusion apparatus comprising:

an inflatable body having first and second elongate linear hollow tubes that define respective stiffnesses, interior volumes and inner surfaces that face one another across a compression region that is sized and shaped to receive the atrial appendage when the inflatable body is in a deflated state and that is sized and shaped to compress the atrial appendage exterior surface and force the atrial appendage inner surfaces against one another, thereby occluding the atrial appendage, when the inflatable body is in an inflated state;

a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body and in fluid communication with the interior volume; and

at least one support member that is stiffer than the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes and is located on respective portions of the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes such that a plane passes through the interior volumes, the compression region and the at least one support member at the respective portions of the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes.

18. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein

the elongate linear hollow tubes define circular cross-sections.

19. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein

the at least one support member comprises a first support member on the first elongate linear hollow tube and a second support member on the first elongate linear hollow tube.

20. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 19 , wherein

the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes define respective lengths; and

the first and second support members define respective lengths that are equal to the lengths of the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes.

21. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein

the inflatable body defines an outer perimeter;

the at least one support member extends around the outer perimeter; and

the at least one support member is movable between an expanded state and a compressed state and is biased to the expanded state.

22. An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising:

a pair of semi-circular hollow end tubes that connect the first and second elongate linear hollow tubes to one another.