System for occlusion of left atrial appendage

Abstract

An epicardial implant having a positioning device that defines an open interior. The positioning device is configured to be detachably coupled with an implant delivery device such that the positioning device may be detached from the implant delivery device after the implant is in place about an atrial appendage. The positioning device has first and second sides with a distal end that couples the first and second sides. The implant includes an expandable cuff coupled with the positioning device. The positioning device is configured to selectively move the expandable cuff toward and away from an atrial appendage to position the expandable cuff in a desired position relative to the atrial appendage. The expandable cuff is expandable into at least a portion of the open interior of the positioning device to physically occlude a base of the atrial appendage following placement of the expandable cuff into the desired position.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A delivery device for an epicardial implant, comprising:
 a positioning device comprising a first prong and a second prong, wherein an interior side each of the first prong and the second prong defines a recess;   a hinge that pivotally couples the first prong and the second prong;   a first inflatable cuff that is housed within the recess of the first prong;   a second inflatable cuff that is housed within the recess of the second prong; and   a handle having a first member and a second member, wherein:
 each of the first member and the second member comprises a proximal end and a distal end; 
 the distal end of each of the first member and the second member are releasably coupled with the positioning device via a quick release mechanism; and 
 the first member and the second member are movable about the hinge to move the first prong and the second prong of the positioning device relative to one another. 
   
     
     
         3 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 2 , wherein:
 at least one of the first inflatable cuff and the second inflatable cuff comprises a non-circular cross-section.   
     
     
         4 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the quick release mechanism comprises a spring biased button disposed in the handle that, when depressed, enables the handle to be disconnected from the positioning device.   
     
     
         5 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 4 , wherein:
 depressing the button causes a protrusion to disengage from a body of the positioning device.   
     
     
         6 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 2 , wherein:
 distal ends the first prong and the second prong comprise locking mechanisms that are engageable with one another to fix a relative position of the first prong and the second prong.   
     
     
         7 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the locking mechanisms are releasable upon application of a predetermined amount of force applied to the handle.   
     
     
         8 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hinge forms a portion of the positioning device.   
     
     
         9 . A delivery device for an epicardial implant, comprising:
 a positioning device comprising a first prong and a second prong that are coupled with one another via a hinge, wherein each of the first prong and the second prong define a recess that receives an inflatable cuff; and   a handle having a first member and a second member, wherein:
 each of the first member and the second member comprises a proximal end and a distal end; 
 the distal end of each of the first member and the second member are releasably coupled with the positioning device; and 
 the first member and the second member are movable about the hinge to move the first prong and the second prong of the positioning device relative to one another. 
   
     
     
         10 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a quick release mechanism that enables the positioning device to be released from the handle.   
     
     
         11 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the quick release mechanism comprises an actuator that extends through an outer surface of the handle.   
     
     
         12 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each inflatable cuffs comprises at least one interior reservoir that, when filled with a fluid, causes the inflatable cuff to expand at least partially out of the recess and into an interior of the positioning device.   
     
     
         13 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 9 , wherein:
 movement of the first member away from the second member causes the first prong and the second prong to move apart.   
     
     
         14 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the distal end of each of the first member and the second member define recesses that receive proximal ends of the first prong and second prong, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The delivery device for an epicardial implant of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the handle and the positioning device are generally coplanar.   
     
     
         16 . A method for treating an atrial appendage, the method comprising:
 positioning a first prong and a second prong of an epicardial implant around an external surface of an atrial appendage such that a base of the atrial appendage is disposed between the first prong and the second prong;   pivoting a first member of a handle of a delivery device and a second member of the handle about a hinge to bring the first prong and the second prong of the epicardial implant together to close the epicardial implant about the atrial appendage;   securing the epicardial implant to the atrial appendage;   expanding an inflatable cuff from each of the first prong and the second prong into an interior of the epicardial implant to an extent sufficient to physically occlude the atrial appendage at the base; and   disengaging the epicardial implant from the delivery device.   
     
     
         17 . The method for treating an atrial appendage of  claim 16 , wherein:
 expanding the inflatable cuff comprises introducing fluid into a reservoir of the inflatable cuff via a fluid supply lumen.   
     
     
         18 . The method for treating an atrial appendage of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 clamping the fluid supply lumen closed after introducing the fluid.   
     
     
         19 . The method for treating an atrial appendage of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 severing a portion of the fluid supply lumen after introducing the fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method for treating an atrial appendage of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 disengaging the epicardial implant from the atrial appendage;   repositioning the epicardial implant about the atrial appendage; and   re-securing the epicardial implant to the atrial appendage by locking the first prong and the second prong in a fixed position relative to one another.   
     
     
         21 . The method for treating an atrial appendage of  claim 16 , wherein:
 disengaging the epicardial implant from the delivery device comprises actuating a quick release mechanism that enables the handle to be pulled away from the epicardial implant.