Patent ID: 7740640
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of closing a septal defect within a patient's heart comprising the steps of: advancing an elongate delivery apparatus, adapted to carry a clip apparatus, through the patient's vasculature and into a right atrial chamber of the heart, wherein the atrial septal wall of the heart has a patent foramen ovale characterized by a first tissue flap located mainly in the right atrial chamber and a second tissue flap located mainly in a left atrial chamber, at least a portion of the first tissue flap overlapping at least a portion of the second tissue flap to define a tunnel therebetween; and advancing the clip apparatus from the right atrial chamber through the first tissue flap, then into and across the tunnel, then through the second tissue flap and into the left atrial chamber, such that at least part of the clip apparatus resides entirely through the first and second tissue flaps to at least partially close the tunnel.