Patent ID: 7922716
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: A61B,C08L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treating an anatomic defect in a heart, the apparatus comprising: an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a vacuum application member coupled with the distal end for engaging tissues at the site of the anatomic defect and for applying vacuum to the tissues to bring them together, the vacuum application member extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the vacuum application member that is coupled to the distal end of the catheter to a distal end of the vacuum application member that defines an opening through which the applied vacuum is drawn, wherein a cross-sectional area of the vacuum application member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum application member increases from the proximal end of the vacuum application member to the distal end of the vacuum application member; and at least one energy transmission member coupled with the vacuum application member for applying energy to tissues at the site of the anatomic defect to substantially close the anatomic defect acutely, wherein the vacuum application member is a unitary braided member.