Abstract:
The present invention relates in general to anchoring systems for occluder devices, and more specifically, to an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device within a left atrial appendage (“LAA”) of the heart. The anchoring system is configured so that an anchor penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of an LAA wall. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an occluder device anchor that has a low risk of embolization and/or causing injury to neighboring valve structures. An additional purpose of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device within the LAA that allows for the occluder device to be retrievable after initial placement, reusable, and repositionable for an optimal final placement within the LAA.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to an anchoring system and method of attaching and retrieving an occluder device in the left atrial appendage of the heart. The purpose of the invention is to provide an anchoring system and method of attaching and retrieving an occluder device that ensures optimal placement within the left atrial appendage of the heart. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide an anchor for an occluder device that has a low risk of embolization. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Approximately 7 million Americans have what is known as non-valvular atrial fibrillation involving complications with the left atrial appendage of the heart (hereinafter, “LAA”). The LAA is a small, windsock shaped sac in the muscle wall of the left atrium. Though uncertain as to what function the LAA performs, if anything, what is certain is that in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, 90% of the thrombus formation occurs in the body of the LAA. In normal conditions, electrical impulses that control a heartbeat travel in an orderly fashion throughout the heart. These electrical impulses cause the heart to contract wherein blood in the left atrium and LAA is driven into the left ventricle with each heartbeat. However, in patients with atrial fibrillation the electrical impulses are fast and chaotic, wherein many impulses begin at the same time and spread throughout the atria. For instance, a healthy atria contracts 60-80 times per minute, while a fibrillating atria quivers at 300-400 times per minute. Problems arise when the electrical impulses do not allow the atria enough time to fully contract and efficiently displace blood into the left ventricle from the left atrium and LAA. Consequently, blood pools and collects in the LAA due to inefficient contraction of the atria and the LAA&#39;s sac-like physiological structure, causing blood clots. Strokes may ultimately occur in patients when the blood clots are pumped out of the heart and embolize to the brain. Notably, individuals with atrial fibrillation are five to seven times more likely to have a stroke than the general population. 
         [0003]    Treatment of atrial fibrillation typically involves oral anticoagulant therapy. Patient&#39;s taking blood thinners have noted a reduction in the risk of stroke by 65% as compared to patients without medication. The oral anticoagulant warfarin (COUMADIN®) has been traditionally utilized to minimize thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation. Due to the requirement of frequent blood draws to monitor a patient&#39;s anticoagulation status, frequent interactions of the medication with either dietary changes or with other medications, and the high risk of encountering serious bleeding events, Coumadin has recently fallen into disfavor in the medical community. Newer medications including dabigatran (PRADAXA®) and rivaroxaban (XARELTO®) are also being utilized. The advantage of these newer medications are that they have less interaction with dietary changes and do not require blood draws to monitor a patient&#39;s anticoagulation status. However, these medications continue to encounter serious gastrointestinal bleeding events, are not reversible, and are extremely expensive. 
         [0004]    Patients who cannot tolerate anticoagulants, or are not eligible for anticoagulant treatment due to pregnancy or other medical reasons, may elect to undertake various procedures to seal off or remove the LAA. One particular procedure, known as LAA occlusion, involves implanting a device into the heart that closes the LAA. Currently, there are several different occluder devices on the market or in current testing, including the WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and the AMULET™. In each of these devices, the major technical difficulty encountered is to get the device to reliably fix itself within the LAA without embolizing or migrating out of the LAA into the systemic circulation. The reason for this is multifactorial, although primarily being related to the LAA coming in many different sizes and configurations. Some sizes and configurations of the LAA are more amenable to device closure, whereas in others, device closure can be extremely difficult—if not impossible—to safely place an occluder device within the LAA. 
         [0005]    The heart is comprised of three layers: (1) an inner endocardium layer; (2) a middle myocardium layer; and (3) an outer epicardium layer. The endocardium is a fragile, thin layer of tissue that lines the heart&#39;s chambers and valves. The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart and is comprised of muscle tissue. The epicardium is a thin layer of visceral tissue. Between the heart and mediastinal space is the pericardium. The pericardium is a visceral layer of endothelium. The pericardial space lies in between the heart&#39;s epicardial surface and the pericardium. The pericardial space is filled with clear fluid that minimizes friction between the heart and other structures within the chest wall. 
         [0006]    Current LAA occluder devices such as the WATCHMAN® and AMPLATZER™ have barbs on the outer edge of the device that latch on circumferentially to the endocardium layer of the LAA. Using barbs to fix the occluder device onto the endocardium layer of the LAA has significant disadvantages. For example, successfully “latching” an occluder device onto the endocardial layer of the LAA may be extremely difficult and time consuming for the interventional cardiologist. Problems are compounded if initial placement of the occluder device within the LAA is less than ideal, as the occluder device cannot be fully retrieved back within the delivery system without permanently damaging the retention barbs and/or the endocardium layer. Moreover, if the occluder device embolizes out of the LAA, irreparable damage to neighboring structures such as the mitral and/or aortic valves of the heart may occur in part, due to the presence of the barbs on the occluder device. Retrieval of an embolized occluder device is further complicated by the presence of the retention barbs. 
         [0007]    Therefore, what is needed is an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that would allow for complete retraction and removal of the occluder device without permanently damaging the device. What is also needed is an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that provides a low risk of embolization and/or causing injury to neighboring valve structures. What is further needed is an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device that allows the occluder device to be positioned in multiple locations within the LAA, being able to be used in all types of LAA anatomy, and still result in optimal final placement of the occluder device within the LAA. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Therefore, it is a principal object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies in the art and provide an anchoring system and method for implanting and retrieving an occluder device in the LAA. 
         [0009]    A further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting and retrieving an occluder device in the LAA that may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices. 
         [0010]    Another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting and recapturing an occluder device in the LAA that minimizes the risk of the occluder device embolizing or migrating following release of the occluder device into the LAA. 
         [0011]    Yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that allows an interventional cardiologist to anchor the occluder device in multiple locations within the LAA. 
         [0012]    A still further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that allows the occluder device to be retrieved and adjusted within the LAA to achieve an optimal final position. 
         [0013]    Another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that causes minimal or no bleeding into the pericardial space upon anchoring. 
         [0014]    A further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that is easy to implant and retrieve by an interventional cardiologist. 
         [0015]    A still further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device in the LAA that allows the occluder device to be retrieved and adjusted by a interventional cardiologist within the LAA without damaging the occluder device. 
         [0016]    These and/or other objects, features, and/or advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features, and advantages. No single aspect need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. 
         [0017]    According to one aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system for implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA comprises an outer sheath and a pericardial catheter. The pericardial catheter may be advanced through the outer sheath into the LAA, wherein the pericardial catheter penetrates a wall of the LAA and enters the pericardial space creating a small hole. A buddy wire and/or a delivery wire are advanced through the pericardial catheter to enter the pericardial space. The anchoring system of the present invention further comprises an anchor, an occluder device, and a flexible connector. The occluder device may be attached to the anchor via the connector. After the pericardial catheter is removed from the outer sheath, the anchor, the connector, and the occluder device are advanced through the outer sheath. The anchor is further advanced to penetrate the LAA wall via the small hole and extend into the pericardial space. Specifically, the anchor penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall. Once inside the pericardial space, the anchor self-expands to implant the base in the LAA wall. The anchor is further configured to prevent the occluder device from being pushed through the small hole into the pericardial space. The outer sheath releases the occluder device into the LAA, wherein it is held in position by the anchor. By mooring the occluder device through all three layers of the LAA wall via the anchor, the risk of embolization is reduced. Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA using the anchoring system described above. 
         [0018]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system for implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA comprises an outer sheath, a pericardial catheter, an occluder device, and an anchor. The pericardial catheter may be advanced through the outer sheath into the LAA, wherein the pericardial catheter penetrates a wall of the LAA and enters the pericardial space creating a small hole. The anchor may comprise a sheave shape with a first half and a second half connected by a shaft. The anchor may further comprise a contracted first position and a deployed second position. After the pericardial catheter is removed from the outer sheath, the occluder device, anchor catheter, and anchor are advanced through the outer sheath using the delivery wire, wherein the anchor is in the contracted first position. The anchor catheter is further advanced to penetrate the LAA wall via the small hole and extend into the pericardial space. Specifically, the anchor catheter delivers the anchor, wherein the first half of the anchor remains inside the LAA and the shaft portion and the second half of the anchor penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall. Once inside the pericardial space, the second half of the anchor self-expands to the deployed second position within the pericardial space to implant the anchor in the LAA wall. The first half of the anchor remaining within the LAA also self-expands to the deployed second position, pinning the occluder device against the wall of the LAA. The outer sheath releases the occluder device into the LAA, wherein it is held in position by the anchor. By mooring the occluder device through all three layers of the LAA wall via the anchor, the risk of embolization is reduced. Another aspect of the present invention, a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA is provided. Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA using the anchoring system described above. 
         [0019]    According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system for implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA comprises an outer sheath, a pericardial catheter, an occluder device, and an anchor. The pericardial catheter may be advanced through the outer sheath into the LAA, wherein the pericardial catheter penetrates a wall of the LAA and enters the pericardial space creating a small hole. A buddy wire and/or a delivery wire are advanced through the pericardial catheter to enter the pericardial space. After the pericardial catheter is removed from the outer sheath, an anchor catheter, the occluder device, and the anchor are then advanced through the outer sheath using the delivery wire. While in a straight-coil configuration, the anchor penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall to extend into the pericardial space. When the delivery wire is retrieved, the anchor self-expands into a two-disc shape, wherein a first coil resides within the LAA and a second coil resides within the pericardial space. The outer sheath releases the occluder device into the LAA, wherein it is pinned against the LAA wall by the anchor. By mooring the occluder device through all three layers of the LAA wall via the anchor, the risk of embolization is reduced. Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device into a LAA using the anchoring system described above. 
         [0020]    Different aspects may meet different objects of the invention. Other objectives and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figures. The present invention is not to be limited by or to these objects, aspects, or figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1-26  represent examples of the anchoring system, anchor, and method of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a view of an outer sheath and pericardial catheter of an anchoring system of the present invention and method for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a view of an anchor, connector, and occluder device of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view of an anchor of the anchoring system and method of claim  1 , wherein the anchor comprises anchor tines. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3A  is an end-view of the anchor of  FIG. 3 , wherein anchor tines are in a contracted first position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3B  is an end-view of the anchor of  FIG. 3 , wherein the anchor tines are in a deployed second position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a view of an anchor of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a coil-wire. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4A  is an end-view of the anchor of  FIG. 4 , wherein a coil-wire is in a contracted first position constrained within an inner sheath. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4B  is an end-view of the anchor of  FIG. 4 , wherein the coil-wire is in a deployed second position within the pericardial space. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 , wherein the anchor and the occluder device are advanced into the LAA. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 5 , wherein the anchor is advanced through the LAA wall. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 6 , wherein the occluder device is released from the inner sheath and positioned within the LAA. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 7 , wherein the occluder device is retrieved inside the inner sheath and the anchor is left implanted in the LAA wall, sealing up the small hole created by the pericardial catheter. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 8 , wherein the anchor is retracted from the LAA wall and the anchor and the occluder device are retrieved inside the inner sheath. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a view of an outer sheath and a pericardial catheter of another aspect of an anchoring system of the present invention and method for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a view of an outer sheath, anchor catheter, and inner dilator of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 10 , wherein the inner dilator and anchor catheter penetrate the LAA wall. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a view the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 10 , wherein an occluder device and an anchor are advanced through the outer sheath and anchor catheter, respectively. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a frontal-side view of the anchor of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 10 , wherein the anchor comprises a sheave shape with a first half, a second half, and a shaft connecting the two halves. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13A  is a side-view of the anchor of  FIG. 13 , wherein the anchor is in a contracted first position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 13B  is a side-view of the anchor of  FIG. 13 , wherein the anchor is in a deployed second position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 , wherein the second half of the anchor is deployed in the pericardial space. 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 , wherein the first half of the anchor is partially deployed in the occluder device. 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1 , wherein the occluder device is released from the outer sheath and the second half of the anchor fully deployed to pin the occluder device against the LAA wall. 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1  if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device, wherein the occluder device is retracted inside the outer sheath and the first half of the anchor is retracted inside the anchor catheter. 
           [0045]      FIG. 18  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 1  if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device, wherein the anchor is left implanted in the LAA wall. 
           [0046]      FIG. 19  is a view of an outer sheath and pericardial catheter of another aspect of an anchoring system of the present invention and method for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. 
           [0047]      FIG. 20  is a view the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19 , wherein an occluder device is advanced through the outer sheath and an anchor is advanced through the anchor catheter. 
           [0048]      FIG. 21A  is a side-view of the anchor of  FIG. 20 , wherein the anchor is in a contracted first position. 
           [0049]      FIG. 21B  is a side-view of the anchor of  FIG. 20 , wherein the anchor is in a deployed second position comprising a double-coiled shape with a first half, a second half, and a shaft connecting the two halves. 
           [0050]      FIG. 22  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19 , wherein the second half of the anchor is deployed in the pericardial space. 
           [0051]      FIG. 23  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19 , wherein the first half of the anchor is partially deployed in the occluder device. 
           [0052]      FIG. 24  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19 , wherein the occluder device is released from the outer sheath and the first half of the anchor is fully deployed to pin the occluder device against the LAA wall. 
           [0053]      FIG. 25  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19  if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device, wherein the occluder device is retracted inside the outer sheath and the first half of the anchor is retracted inside the anchor catheter. 
           [0054]      FIG. 26  is a view of the anchoring system and method of  FIG. 19  if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device, wherein the anchor is left implanted in the LAA wall. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0055]      FIG. 1  illustrates one aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system  10  for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. The anchoring system  10  may comprise a pericardial catheter  14 , wherein the pericardial catheter  14  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  10  may further comprise an outer sheath  16  and an inner sheath  18 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized by the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The single or double-lumen pericardial catheter  14  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  20  and/or a buddy wire  22 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  20  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  22  may range between approximately 0.008 0.025 inches. 
         [0056]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the outer sheath  16  may be inserted into LAA  24  via the left atrium proper of the heart by crossing the atrial septum using a transeptal procedure. If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  24  from the left atrium proper. Expanding the balloon occlusion may improve stabilization of the outer sheath  16  within the LAA  24  and allow for better imaging of the LAA  24  by an interventional cardiologist. The pericardial catheter  14  may be advanced through the outer sheath  16 , wherein the pericardial catheter  14  penetrates LAA wall  26  and enters pericardial space  28 . Specifically, the pericardial catheter  14  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  14  creates a small hole  30  through the LAA wall  26  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of bleeding and fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30 . While the pericardial catheter  14  remains inside the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30 , the delivery wire  20  and/or the buddy wire  22  may be advanced through the pericardial catheter  14 , wherein the delivery wire  20  and/or the buddy wire  22  enter the pericardial space  28 . The buddy wire  22  remains inside the pericardial space  28  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  22  allows a interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  26  and place a plug within the small hole  30  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  32  or the occluder device  36 . The pericardial catheter  14  may then be removed from the outer sheath  16 , leaving the delivery wire  20  and/or the buddy wire  22  inside the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30  in the LAA wall  26 . 
         [0057]    Illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the anchoring system  10  of the present invention further comprises an anchor  32 , an occluder device  36 , and a connector  38 . It is contemplated that the anchoring system  10  of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. 
         [0058]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the occluder device  36  is connected to the anchor  32  via the connector  38 . The connector  38  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy, or other materials standardly used in the industry. The connector  38  may be square, flat, rectangular, round, spherical, coiled, ovular, a combination thereof, or any other shape. The connector  38  may be approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in length and approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in width. It is intended that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the anchor  32  and the occluder device  36 . This flexibility may be achieved via an articulating joint, such as a ball-and-socket joint  44 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The ball-and-socket joint  44  of  FIG. 2  is illustrated for example purposes only. It is not intended that the connector  38  of the present invention be limited to a ball-and-socket joint  44 . Rather, it is intended that other articulating connectors standardly used in the industry may also be utilized, such as hinge joints, pivot joints, ellipsoid joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and others. It is important that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the occluder device  36  and the anchor  32  to allow for multiple insertion sites within the LAA  24 , thus, ensuring the occluder device  36  is properly positioned within the LAA  24  once deployed. Furthermore, the connector  38  may allow an interventional cardiologist via a cable (not shown) to conveniently attach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32 , release the occluder device  36  from the anchor  32 , and reattach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32  without damaging the occluder device  36 . 
         [0059]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The length of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-10 mm, wherein the width of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-20 mm. The anchor  32  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  32  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0060]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may comprise a plurality of self-expanding anchor tines  39 , wherein the plurality may comprise 2-10 tines. The anchor tines  39  may be approximately 5-20 mm in length and approximately 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The anchor tines  39  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor tines  39  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The anchor tines  39  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the anchor tines  39  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0061]    Alternatively, the anchor  32  of the present invention may comprise a self-expanding coil-wire  40  instead of the anchor tines  39  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The coil-wire  40  may be approximately 5-25 mm in length and 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The coil-wire  40  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The coil-wire  40  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The coil-wire  40  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the coil-wire  40  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0062]    The anchor  32  may have a contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) and a deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). When the anchor tines  39  are utilized, the anchor tines  39  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 2-20 mm in diameter in the deployed second position ( FIG. 3B ). Alternatively when the coil-wire  40  is utilized, the coil-wire may have a circular diameter of 0.01-1.5 mm in the contracted first position ( FIG. 4A ), and may have a circular diameter of approximately 5-20 mm in the deployed second position ( FIG. 4B ). However, it is contemplated that the diameter of the contracted first position and deployed second position of the coil-wire  40  may have any shape compatible with the LAA  24 . 
         [0063]    Illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the inner sheath  18  is advanced up to and adjacent the LAA wall  26 . The anchor  32 , the connector  38 , and the occluder device  36  are next advanced through the inner sheath  18  using the delivery wire  20 , wherein the anchor  32  resides adjacent the small hole  30  in the LAA wall  26 . 
         [0064]    Illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the anchor  32 , the connector  38 , and the occluder device  36  are further advanced through the inner sheath  18  using the delivery wire  20 , wherein the anchor  32  penetrates the LAA wall  26  via the small hole  30  and extends into the pericardial space  28 . Specifically, the anchor  32  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . Once inside the pericardial space  28 , the anchor  32  self-expands from the contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) to the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). 
         [0065]    Illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the inner sheath  18  is retracted inside the outer sheath  16  after the anchor  32  has been implanted in the LAA wall  26 . This effectively releases the occluder device  36  into the LAA  24 . The expanded anchor  32  in the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ) covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  36  in an implanted position within the LAA  24 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  36  via the anchor  32  through all three layers of the LAA wall  26 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  10  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 8-9  illustrate the anchoring system  10  of the present invention if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  36 . For instance, it may be determined that the occluder device  36  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  24  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. The anchoring system  10  of the present invention offers two solutions to overcome these problems. 
         [0067]    The first solution is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , wherein an interventional cardiologist may use a cable (not shown) to detach  42  the occluder device  36  from the anchor  32  via connector  38 . The occluder device  36  is then retrieved inside the inner sheath  18  via the cable. The anchor  32  is expendable and may be left implanted in the LAA wall  26  where it causes no harm to the patient. A new anchor  32  is then connected to the occluder device  36  via the connector  38 , and the anchoring steps repeated until optimal placement of the occluder device  36  within the LAA  24  is achieved. 
         [0068]    The second solution is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , wherein the occluder device  36  is retrieved inside the inner sheath  18  via a cable (not shown). The inner sheath  18  is then advanced to envelope the anchor  32  and press up against the LAA wall  26 . While the inner sheath  18  is pressed up against the LAA wall  26 , the anchor  32  is pulled back through the LAA wall  26 , into the LAA  24 , and retrieved  46  inside the inner sheath  18  via the cable. The anchor  32  is designed to retract from the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ) into the contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) without tearing or ripping the LAA wall  26  as the anchor  32  is retrieved inside the inner sheath  18 . Thus, the anchoring system  10  of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  36  into the LAA  24  using anchor  32 , safely retrieve the occluder device  36  and anchor  32  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, and then reuse and re-implant the occluder device  36  and anchor  32  in an optimal location of the LAA  24 . Ultimately after optimal placement of the occluder device within the LAA is achieved, the delivery wire  20  and buddy wire  22  are removed from the LAA via the outer  16  sheath. The outer sheath  16  may be subsequently removed from the LAA  24  via the left atrium proper of the heart. 
         [0069]    In another aspect of the present invention, an anchor  32  is provided for anchoring an occluder device  36  within the LAA  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The length of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-10 mm, wherein the width of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-20 mm. The anchor  32  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  32  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0070]    Illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the anchor  32  is further configured to connect to an occluder device  36  via a connector  38 . The connector  38  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy, or other materials standardly used in the industry. The connector  38  may be square, flat, rectangular, round, spherical, coiled, ovular, a combination thereof, or any other shape. The connector  38  may be approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in length and approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in width. It is intended that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the anchor  32  and the occluder device  36 . This flexibility may be achieved via an articulating joint, such as a ball-and-socket joint  44 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The ball-and-socket joint  44  of  FIG. 2  is illustrated for example purposes only. It is not intended that the connector  38  of the present invention be limited to a ball-and-socket joint  44 . Rather, it is intended that other articulating connectors standardly used in the industry may also be utilized, such as hinge joints, pivot joints, ellipsoid joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and others. It is important that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the occluder device  36  and the anchor  32  to allow for multiple insertion sites within the LAA  24 , thus, ensuring the occluder device  36  is properly positioned within the LAA  24  once deployed. Furthermore, the connector  38  may allow an interventional cardiologist via a cable (not shown) to conveniently attach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32 , release the occluder device  36  from the anchor  32 , and reattach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32  without damaging the occluder device  36 . 
         [0071]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may comprise a plurality of self-expanding anchor tines  39 , wherein the plurality may comprise 2-10 tines. The anchor tines  39  may be approximately 5-20 mm in length and approximately 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The anchor tines  39  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor tines  39  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The anchor tines  39  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the anchor tines  39  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0072]    Alternatively, the anchor  32  of the present invention may comprise a self-expanding coil-wire  40  instead of the anchor tines  39  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The coil-wire  40  may be approximately 5-25 mm in length and 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The coil-wire  40  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The coil-wire  40  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The coil-wire  40  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the coil-wire  40  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0073]    The anchor  32  may have a contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) and a deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). When the anchor tines  39  are utilized, the anchor tines  39  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 2-20 mm in diameter in the deployed second position ( FIG. 3B ). Alternatively when the coil-wire  40  is utilized, the coil-wire may have a circular diameter of 0.01-1.5 mm in the contracted first position ( FIG. 4A ), and may have a circular diameter of approximately 5-20 mm in the deployed second position ( FIG. 4B ). However, it is contemplated that the diameter of the contracted first position and deployed second position of the coil-wire  40  may have any shape compatible with the LAA  24 . 
         [0074]    Illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the anchor  32  is configured to penetrate the LAA wall  26  via a pre-made small hole  30  through the LAA wall. Specifically, the anchor  32  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . The anchor  32  extends into the pericardial space  28 , wherein the anchor  32  self-expands from the contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) to the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). The expanded anchor  32  in the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ) covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  36  in an implanted position within the LAA  24 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  36  via the anchor  32  through all three layers of the LAA wall  26 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchor  32  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. 
         [0075]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The method of the present invention comprises providing an anchoring system  10 . The anchoring system  10  comprises a pericardial catheter  14 , wherein the pericardial catheter  14  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  10  may further comprise an outer sheath  16  and an inner sheath  18 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized in the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The pericardial catheter  14  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  20  and/or a buddy wire  22 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  20  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  22  may range between approximately 0.008-0.025 inches. 
         [0076]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the method of the present invention comprises inserting the outer sheath  16  into LAA  24  via the left atrium proper of the heart. If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  24  from the left atrium proper. Next, the pericardial catheter  14  may be advanced through the outer sheath  16 , wherein the pericardial catheter  14  penetrates LAA wall  26  and enters pericardial space  28 . Specifically, the pericardial catheter  14  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  14  creates a small hole  30  through the LAA wall  26  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30 . While the pericardial catheter  14  remains inside the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30 , the delivery wire  20  and the buddy wire  22  may be advanced through the pericardial catheter  14 , wherein the delivery wire  20  and the buddy wire  22  enter the pericardial space  28 . The buddy wire  22  remains inside the pericardial space  28  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  22  allows an interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  26  and place a plug within the small hole  30  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  32  or the occluder device  36 . The pericardial catheter  14  may then be removed from the outer sheath  16 , leaving the delivery wire  20  and the buddy wire  22  inside the pericardial space  28  via the small hole  30  in the LAA wall  26 . 
         [0077]    Illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an anchor  32 , an occluder device  36 , and a connector  38 . It is contemplated that the method of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. 
         [0078]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the method of the present invention comprises connecting the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32  via the connector  38 . The connector  38  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy, or other materials standardly used in the industry. The connector  38  may be square, flat, rectangular, round, spherical, coiled, ovular, a combination thereof, or any other shape. The connector  38  may be approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in length and approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm in width. It is intended that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the anchor  32  and the occluder device  36 . This flexibility may be achieved via an articulating joint, such as a ball-and-socket joint  44 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The ball-and-socket joint  44  of  FIG. 2  is illustrated for example purposes only. It is not intended that the connector  38  of the present invention be limited to a ball-and-socket joint  44 . Rather, it is intended that other articulating connectors standardly used in the industry may also be utilized, such as hinge joints, pivot joints, ellipsoid joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and others. It is important that the connector  38  provide flexibility between the occluder device  36  and the anchor  32  to allow for multiple insertion sites within the LAA  24 , thus, ensuring the occluder device  36  is properly positioned within the LAA  24  once deployed. Furthermore, the connector  38  may allow an interventional cardiologist via a cable (not shown) to conveniently attach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32 , release the occluder device  36  from the anchor  32 , and reattach the occluder device  36  to the anchor  32  without damaging the occluder device  36 . 
         [0079]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The length of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-10 mm, wherein the width of the anchor  32  may be approximately 1-20 mm. The anchor  32  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  32  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0080]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  32  may comprise a plurality of self-expanding anchor tines  39 , wherein the plurality may comprise 2-10 tines. The anchor tines  39  may be approximately 5-20 mm in length and approximately 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The anchor tines  39  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor tines  39  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The anchor tines  39  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the anchor tines  39  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0081]    Alternatively, the anchor  32  of the present invention may comprise a self-expanding coil-wire  40  instead of the anchor tines  39  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The coil-wire  40  may be approximately 5-25 mm in length and 0.01-1.5 mm in width. The coil-wire  40  may be circular in cross-section, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The coil-wire  40  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. The coil-wire  40  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. It is also contemplated that the coil-wire  40  may comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. 
         [0082]    The anchor  32  may have a contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) and a deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). When the anchor tines  39  are utilized, the anchor tines  39  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 2-20 mm in diameter in the deployed second position ( FIG. 3B ). Alternatively when the coil-wire  40  is utilized, the coil-wire may have a circular diameter of 0.01-1.5 mm in the contracted first position ( FIG. 4A ), and may have a circular diameter of approximately 5-20 mm in the deployed second position ( FIG. 4B ). However, it is contemplated that the diameter of the contracted first position and deployed second position of the coil-wire  40  may have any shape compatible with the LAA  24 . 
         [0083]    Illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the method of the present invention further comprises advancing the inner sheath  18  up to and adjacent the LAA wall  26 . The anchor  32 , the connector  38 , and the occluder device  36  are next advanced through the inner sheath  18  using the delivery wire  20 , wherein the anchor  32  resides adjacent the small hole  30  in the LAA wall  26 . 
         [0084]    Illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the method of the present invention comprises further advancing the anchor  32 , the anchor tines  39 , the connector  38 , and the occluder device  36  through the inner sheath  18  using the delivery wire  20 , wherein the anchor  32  penetrates the LAA wall  26  via the small hole  30  and extends into the pericardial space  28 . Specifically, the anchor  32  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . Once inside the pericardial space  28 , the anchor  32  self-expands from the contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) to the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ). 
         [0085]    Illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the method of the present invention further comprises retracting the inner sheath  18  inside the outer sheath  16  after the anchor  32  has been implanted in the LAA wall  26 . This effectively releases the occluder device  36  into the LAA  24 . The expanded anchor  32  in the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ) covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  36  in an implanted position within the LAA  24 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  36  via the anchor  32  through all three layers of the LAA wall  26 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  10  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. 
         [0086]      FIGS. 8-9  illustrate the method of the present invention, further comprising making a determination whether a problem has arisen after deployment of the occluder device  36 . For example, it may be determined that the occluder device  36  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  24  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. The method of the present invention offers two alternative solutions to overcome these problems. 
         [0087]    The first solution is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , wherein an interventional cardiologist may use a cable (not shown) to detach  42  the occluder device  36  from the anchor  32  via connector  38 . The occluder device  36  is then retrieved inside the inner sheath  18  via the cable. The anchor  32  is expendable and may be left implanted in the LAA wall  26  where it causes no harm to the patient. A new anchor  32  is then connected to the occluder device  36  via the connector  38 , and the anchoring steps repeated until optimal placement of the occluder device  36  within the LAA  24  is achieved. 
         [0088]    The second solution is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , wherein the occluder device  36  is retrieved inside the inner sheath  18  via a cable (not shown). The inner sheath  18  is then advanced to envelope the anchor  32  and press up against the LAA wall  26 . While the inner sheath  18  is pressed up against the LAA wall  26 , the anchor  32  is pulled back through the LAA wall  26 , into the LAA  24 , and retrieved  46  inside the inner sheath  18  via the cable. The anchor  32  is designed to retract from the deployed second position ( FIGS. 3B, 4B ) into the contracted first position ( FIGS. 3A, 4A ) without tearing or ripping the LAA wall  26  as the anchor  32  is retrieved inside the inner sheath  18 . Thus, the method of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  36  into the LAA  24  using anchor  32 , safely retrieve the occluder device  36  and anchor  32  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, and then reuse and re-implant the same occluder device  36  and anchor  32  in an optimal location of the LAA  24 . Ultimately after optimal placement of the occluder device within the LAA is achieved, the delivery wire  20  and buddy wire  22  are removed from the LAA via the outer sheath  16 . The outer sheath  16  may be subsequently removed from the LAA  24  via the left atrium proper of the heart. 
         [0089]      FIG. 10  illustrates a further aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system  50  for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. The anchoring system  50  may comprise a pericardial catheter  54 , wherein the pericardial catheter  54  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  50  may further comprise an outer sheath  56 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized by the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The pericardial catheter  54  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  60  and/or a buddy wire  62 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  60  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  62  may range between approximately 0.008-0.025 inches. 
         [0090]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the outer sheath  56  may be inserted into LAA  64  via the left atrium proper of the heart by crossing the atrial septum using a transeptal procedure. If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  64  from the left atrium proper. Expanding the balloon occlusion may improve stabilization of the outer sheath  56  within the LAA  64  and allow for better imaging of the LAA  64  by an interventional cardiologist. The pericardial catheter  54  may be advanced through the outer sheath  56  to the LAA wall  66 . The buddy wire  62  is next advanced through the pericardial catheter  54  and the adjacent LAA wall  66 , wherein the buddy wire  62  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . The pericardial catheter  54  is next advanced over the buddy wire  62  and through the LAA wall  66 , penetrating the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  54  creates a small hole  70  through the LAA wall  66  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70 . While the pericardial catheter  54  remains inside the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70 , the delivery wire  60  may then be advanced through the pericardial catheter  54 , wherein the delivery wire  60  enters the pericardial space  68 . The pericardial catheter  54  may then be removed from the outer sheath  56 , leaving the delivery wire  60  and the buddy wire  62  inside the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70  in the LAA wall  66 . 
         [0091]    Illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the anchoring system  50  of the present invention further comprises an anchor catheter  58  and an inner dilator  86 , wherein the inner dilator  86  includes a pointed distal end  88 . The inner dilator  86  may be configured to encompass the delivery wire  60 , wherein the delivery wire  60  may traverse through an inner lumen of the inner dilator  86 . The anchor catheter  58  and the inner dilator  86  may be advanced through the outer sheath  56  to the LAA wall  66  adjacent the small hole  70 . Particularly, the delivery wire  60  may traverse through the anchor catheter  52  and the inner dilator  86 . The buddy wire  62  may reside outside the anchor catheter  58  and yet inside the outer sheath  56 . Using the pointed distal end  88  of the inner dilator  86 , the inner dilator  86  and the anchor catheter  52  may be further advanced through the small hole  70  to penetrate the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . Thus, the pointed distal end  88  of the inner dilator  86 , along with a distal end of the anchor catheter  52 , extends into the pericardial space  68 . The inner dilator  86  may be subsequently removed from the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the distal end of the anchor catheter  58  remains extending into the pericardial space  68 . 
         [0092]    Illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the anchoring system  50  of the present invention further comprises an occluder device  80  and an occluder cable  84 . It is contemplated that the anchoring system  50  of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  80  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  80  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  80  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the occluder cable  84  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The occluder cable  84  may be attached to the occluder device  80 , wherein the occluder cable  84  may be used for deploying and retrieving the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64 . The occluder device  80  and the occluder cable  84  may encompass the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the anchor catheter  58  may traverse through an inner lumen of the occluder device  80  and an inner lumen of the occluder cable  84 . The occluder device  80  may reside between the anchor catheter  58  and the outer sheath  56 . 
         [0093]    As further shown in  FIG. 12 , the anchoring catheter  58  may comprise an anchor  72  and an anchor cable  82 . The anchor cable  82  may be attached to the anchor  72 , wherein the anchor cable  82  may be used for deploying the anchor  72  within the LAA wall  66 . The anchor cable  82  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The anchor cable  82  and anchor  72  may encompass the delivery wire  60 , wherein the delivery wire  60  may traverse through an inner lumen of the anchor  72  and an inner lumen of the anchor cable  82 . The delivery wire  60  may be used to navigate the anchoring system  50  through the LAA  64 . Alternatively, the anchor  72  and anchor cable  82  may be advanced through the anchor catheter  58  into the pericardial space  68  without using the delivery wire  60 . The buddy wire  62  may remain inside the pericardial space  68  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  62  allows an interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  66  and place a plug within the small hole  70  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  72  or the occluder device  80 . 
         [0094]    Illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the anchor  72  may be shaped like a sheave, comprising a first half  74 , a second half  76 , and a shaft  78  connecting the first half  74  to the second half  76 , although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the present invention. The anchor  72  may be comprised of wire, wherein the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  comprise wire mesh, further wherein the shaft  78  may comprise a single wire connecting the first half  75  wire mesh and the second half  76  wire mesh. The anchor  72  may be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape, and may be comprised of single or multiple wires. The anchor  72  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  72  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  72  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  72  may have a lumen wherein the delivery wire  60  traverses therein, alternatively, the anchor  72  may not have a lumen. The anchor  72  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0095]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-B , the anchor  72  may have a contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) and a deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ), the first half  74 , second half  76 , and shaft  78  of the anchor  72  have a diameter of approximately 1-5 mm and a length of approximately 5-55 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ), the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-25 mm in diameter, wherein the shaft  78  remains approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. The anchor  72  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). 
         [0096]    Illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the anchor  72  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) may be advanced through the anchor catheter  58  using the anchor cable  82  and the delivery wire  60 , wherein the anchor  72  extends into the pericardial space  68 . The anchor catheter  58  may then be retracted, allowing the second half  76  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 . While the second half  76  of the anchor  72  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  78  and the first half  74  of the anchor  72  remain temporarily inside the anchor catheter  58 . 
         [0097]    Illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the anchor catheter  58  may be further retracted, allowing the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 , wherein the occluder device  80  remains inside the outer sheath  56 . The shaft  78  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . The second half  76  of the anchor  72  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 , wherein the first half  74  of the anchor  72  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Alternatively, the anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  80  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be advanced together through the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the anchor  72  is implanted in the LAA wall  66  using the system  50  of the present invention described above. 
         [0098]    Illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the outer sheath  56  may be retracted to allow the occluder device  80  to expand inside the LAA  64 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  56  allows the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Thus, the shaft  78  of the anchor  72  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  80 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  80  pinches down on the shaft  78 . Furthermore, the first half of the anchor  74  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  80  against the LAA wall  66 , wherein the anchor  72  effectively moors the occluder device  80  inside the LAA  64 . At this time the expanded anchor  72  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  80  in an implanted position within the LAA  64 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  80  via the anchor  72  through all three layers of the LAA wall  66 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  50  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. Here, the anchor cable  82  remains attached to the anchor  72  and the occluder cable  84  remains attached to the occluder device  80  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  80 . If no problems arise and it is determined that the occluder device  80  is in an optimal location of the LAA  64 , the occluder cable  84  may be detached from the occluder device  80  and removed from the LAA  64 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  82  may be detached from the anchor  72  and removed from the LAA  64 . The buddy wire  62  and delivery wire  60  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  64 , leaving the occluder device  80  anchored securely in the LAA  64  by the anchoring system  50  of the present invention. 
         [0099]      FIG. 17  illustrates the anchoring system  50  of the present invention if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  80 . For instance, it may be determined that the occluder device  80  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  64  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. In this situation—prior to release of the occluder cable  84  from the occluder device  80  and the anchor cable  82  from the anchor  72 —the outer sheath  56  may be advanced over the occluder device  80  to the LAA wall  66 , wherein the occluder device  80  is retracted inside the outer sheath  56  using the occluder cable  82 . The anchor catheter  58  may then be advanced to the LAA wall  66 , wherein the first half  74  of the anchor  72  is retracted inside the anchor catheter  58  using the anchor cable  82 . Thus, using the anchor cable  82 , the first half  74  of the anchor  72  retracts from the deployed second position to the contracted first position to fit inside the anchor catheter  58 . The outer sheath  56  containing the occluder device  80  may then be removed from the LAA  64 , or the occluder device  80  may be re-deployed in a more optimal location of the LAA  64 . If the occluder device  80  is removed from the LAA  64 , the anchor catheter  58  may be retrieved thereafter, allowing the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the LAA  64 . Thus, the deployed anchor  72  remains inside the LAA  64  and allows for occlusion of the small hole  70  that was created by the pericardial catheter  54  through the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . 
         [0100]    Illustrated in  FIG. 18 , if optimal placement of the occluder device  80  was not achieved the anchor  72  may be released from the anchor cable  82  and deployed alone within the LAA wall  66  to plug the small hole  70  and prevent fluids from entering the pericardial space  68 . The delivery wire  60  and buddy wire  62  may be subsequently removed from the LAA  64 . This allows for a new anchor  72  to be placed within the LAA wall  66  using the anchoring system  50  cited above for achieving optimal placement of the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64 . On the other hand, if the anchor  72  is initially placed in an optimal location within the LAA wall  66  but there are problems with the occluder device  80 , a second occluder device may be advanced over the inner sheath  58  and deployed within the LAA  64  using the anchoring system  50  cited above. Thus, the anchoring system  50  of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  80  into the LAA  64  using anchor  72 , safely retrieve or re-deploy the occluder device  80  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, with an option to re-implant a new occluder device and new anchor in an optimal location of the LAA  24 . After optimal placement of the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64  is achieved, the delivery wire  60  and buddy wire  62  may be removed from the LAA  64 . 
         [0101]    In another aspect of the present invention, an anchor  72  is provided for anchoring an occluder device  80  within a LAA  64 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the anchor  72  may be shaped like a sheave, comprising a first half  74 , a second half  76 , and a shaft  78  connecting the first half  74  to the second half  76 , although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the present invention. The anchor  72  may be comprised of wire, wherein the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  comprise wire mesh, further wherein the shaft  78  may comprise a single wire connecting the first half  75  wire mesh and the second half  76  wire mesh. The anchor  72  may further be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape, and may be comprised of single or multiple wires. The anchor  72  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  72  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  72  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  72  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0102]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-B , the anchor  72  may have a contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) and a deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ), the first half  74 , second half  76 , and shaft  78  of the anchor  72  have a diameter of approximately 1-5 mm and a length of approximately 5-55 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ), the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-25 mm in diameter, wherein the shaft  78  remains approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. The anchor  72  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). 
         [0103]    It is contemplated that the anchor  72  of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  80  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  80  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  80  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. 
         [0104]    Illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the anchor  72  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) may be advanced through an anchor catheter  58  using an anchor cable  82  and a delivery wire  60 , wherein the anchor  72  extends into pericardial space  68 . The anchor catheter  58  may then be retracted, allowing the second half  76  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 . While the second half  76  of the anchor  72  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  72  and the first half  74  of the anchor  72  remain temporarily inside the anchor catheter  58 . 
         [0105]    Illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the anchor catheter  58  may be further retracted, allowing the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 , wherein the occluder device  80  remains inside the outer sheath  56 . The shaft  78  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26 . The second half  76  of the anchor  72  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 , wherein the first half  74  of the anchor  72  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Alternatively, the anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  80  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be advanced together through the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the anchor  72  is implanted in the LAA wall  26  using the system  50  of the present invention described above. 
         [0106]    Illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the outer sheath  56  may be retracted to allow the occluder device  80  to expand inside the LAA  64 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  56  allows the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Thus, the shaft  78  of the anchor  72  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  80 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  80  pinches down on the shaft  78 . Furthermore, the first half of the anchor  74  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  80  against the LAA wall  66 , wherein the anchor  72  effectively moors the occluder device  80  inside the LAA  64 . At this time the expanded anchor  72  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  80  in an implanted position within the LAA  64 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  80  via the anchor  72  through all three layers of the LAA wall  66 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  50  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. Here, the anchor cable  82  remains attached to the anchor  72  and an occluder cable  84  remains attached to the occluder device  80  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  80 . If no problems arise and it is determined that the occluder device  80  is in an optimal location of the LAA  64 , the occluder cable  84  may be detached from the occluder device  80  and removed from the LAA  64 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  82  may be detached from the anchor  72  and removed from the LAA  64 . The delivery wire  60  and/or a buddy wire  62  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  64 , leaving the occluder device  80  anchored securely in the LAA  64  by the anchor  72  of the present invention. 
         [0107]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The method of the present invention comprises providing an anchoring system  50 . The anchoring system  50  may comprise a pericardial catheter  54 , wherein the pericardial catheter  54  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  50  may further comprise an outer sheath  56 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized by the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The pericardial catheter  54  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  60  and/or a buddy wire  62 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  60  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  62  may range between approximately 0.008-0.025 inches. 
         [0108]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the method of the present invention further comprises inserting the outer sheath  56  into the LAA  64  via the left atrium proper of the heart by crossing the atrial septum using a transeptal procedure. If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  64  from the left atrium proper. Expanding the balloon occlusion may improve stabilization of the outer sheath  56  within the LAA  64  and allow for better imaging of the LAA  64  by an interventional cardiologist. The pericardial catheter  54  may be advanced through the outer sheath  56  to the LAA wall  66 . The buddy wire  62  is next advanced through the pericardial catheter  54  and the adjacent LAA wall  66 , wherein the buddy wire  62  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  26  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . The pericardial catheter  54  is advanced over the buddy wire  62  and through the LAA wall  66 , penetrating the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  54  creates a small hole  70  through the LAA wall  66  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70 . While the pericardial catheter  54  remains inside the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70 , the delivery wire  60  may then be advanced through the pericardial catheter  54 , wherein the delivery wire  60  enters the pericardial space  68 . The pericardial catheter  54  may then be removed from the outer sheath  56 , leaving the delivery wire  60  and the buddy wire  62  inside the pericardial space  68  via the small hole  70  in the LAA wall  66 . 
         [0109]    Illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an anchor catheter  58  and an inner dilator  86 , wherein the inner dilator  86  includes a pointed distal end  88 . The inner dilator  86  may be configured to encompass the delivery wire  60 , wherein the delivery wire  60  may traverse through an inner lumen of the inner dilator  86 . The anchor catheter  58  and the inner dilator  86  may be advanced through the outer sheath  56  to the LAA wall  66  adjacent the small hole  70 . Particularly, the delivery wire  60  may traverse through the anchor catheter  52  and the inner dilator  86 . The buddy wire  62  may reside outside the anchor catheter  58  and yet inside the outer sheath  56 . Using the pointed distal end  88  of the inner dilator  86 , the inner dilator  86  and the anchor catheter  52  may be further advanced through the small hole  70  to penetrate the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . Thus, the pointed distal end  88  of the inner dilator  86 , along with a distal end of the anchor catheter  52 , extends into the pericardial space  68 . The inner dilator  86  may be subsequently removed from the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the distal end of the anchor catheter  58  remains extending into the pericardial space  68 . 
         [0110]    Illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an occluder device  80  and an occluder cable  84 . It is contemplated that the method of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  80  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  80  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  80  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the occluder cable  84  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The occluder cable  84  may be attached to the occluder device  80 , wherein the occluder cable  84  may be used for deploying and retrieving the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64 . The occluder device  80  and the occluder cable  84  may encompass the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the anchor catheter  58  may traverse through an inner lumen of the occluder device  80  and an inner lumen of the occluder cable  84 . The occluder device  80  may reside between the anchor catheter  58  and the outer sheath  56 . 
         [0111]    As further shown in  FIG. 12 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an anchor  72  and an anchor cable  82 , wherein the anchor  72  and anchor cable  82  are inserted in the anchor catheter  58 . The anchor cable  82  may be attached to the anchor  72 , wherein the anchor cable  82  may be used for deploying the anchor  72  within the LAA wall  66 . The anchor cable  82  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The anchor cable  82  and anchor  72  may encompass the delivery wire  60 , wherein the delivery wire  60  may traverse through an inner lumen of the anchor  72  and an inner lumen of the anchor cable  82 . The delivery wire  60  may be used to navigate the anchoring system  50  through the LAA  64 . Alternatively, the anchor  72  and anchor cable  82  may be advanced through the anchor catheter  58  into the pericardial space  68  without using the delivery wire  60 . The buddy wire  62  may remain inside the pericardial space  68  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  62  allows an interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  66  and place a plug within the small hole  70  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  72  or the occluder device  80 . 
         [0112]    Illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the anchor  72  may be shaped like a sheave, comprising a first half  74 , a second half  76 , and a shaft  78  connecting the first half  74  to the second half  76 , although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the present invention. The anchor  72  may be comprised of wire, wherein the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  comprise wire mesh, further wherein the shaft  78  may comprise a single wire connecting the first half  75  wire mesh and the second half  76  wire mesh. The anchor  72  may be comprised of a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape, and may be comprised of single or multiple wires. The anchor  72  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  72  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  72  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  72  may have a lumen wherein the delivery wire  60  traverses therein, alternatively, the anchor  72  may not have a lumen. The anchor  72  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0113]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-B , the anchor  72  may have a contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) and a deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ), the first half  74 , second half  76 , and shaft  78  of the anchor  72  have a diameter of approximately 1-5 mm and a length of approximately 5-55 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ), the first half  74  and second half  76  of the anchor  72  may expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-25 mm in diameter, wherein the shaft  78  remains approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. The anchor  72  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 13B ). 
         [0114]    Illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the method of the present invention comprises advancing the anchor  72  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 13A ) through the anchor catheter  58  using the anchor cable  82  and the delivery wire  60 , wherein the anchor  72  extends into the pericardial space  68 . The anchor catheter  58  may then be retracted, allowing the second half  76  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 . While the second half  76  of the anchor  72  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  78  and the first half  74  of the anchor  72  remain temporarily inside the anchor catheter  58 . 
         [0115]    Illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the method of the present invention further comprises retracting the anchor catheter  58 , allowing the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 , wherein the occluder device  80  remains inside the outer sheath  56 . The shaft  78  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . The second half  76  of the anchor  72  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  68 , wherein the first half  74  of the anchor  72  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Alternatively, the anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  80  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  72  and occluder device  80  may be advanced together through the anchor catheter  58 , wherein the anchor  72  is implanted in the LAA wall  66  using the system  50  of the present invention described above. 
         [0116]    Illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the method of the present invention comprises retracting the outer sheath  56  to allow the occluder device  80  to expand inside the LAA  64 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  56  allows the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  80 . Thus, the shaft  78  of the anchor  72  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  80 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  80  pinches down on the shaft  78 . Furthermore, the first half of the anchor  74  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  80  against the LAA wall  66 , wherein the anchor  72  effectively moors the occluder device  80  inside the LAA  64 . At this time the expanded anchor  72  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  80  in an implanted position within the LAA  64 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  80  via the anchor  72  through all three layers of the LAA wall  66 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the method of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. Here, the anchor cable  82  remains attached to the anchor  72  and the occluder cable  84  remains attached to the occluder device  80  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  80 . If no problems arise and it is determined that the occluder device  80  is in an optimal location of the LAA  64 , the occluder cable  84  may be detached from the occluder device  80  and removed from the LAA  64 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  82  may be detached from the anchor  72  and removed from the LAA  64 . The buddy wire  62  and delivery wire  60  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  64 , leaving the occluder device  80  anchored securely in the LAA  64  by the method of the present invention. 
         [0117]      FIG. 17  illustrates the method of the present invention if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  80 . For instance, the method comprises making a determination that the occluder device  80  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  64  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. In this situation—prior to release of the occluder cable  84  from the occluder device  80  and the anchor cable  82  from the anchor  72 —the outer sheath  56  may be advanced over the occluder device  80  to the LAA wall  66 , wherein the occluder device  80  is retracted inside the outer sheath  56  using the occluder cable  82 . The anchor catheter  58  may then be advanced to the LAA wall  66 , wherein the first half  74  of the anchor  72  is retracted inside the anchor catheter  58  using the anchor cable  82 . Thus, using the anchor cable  82 , the first half  74  of the anchor  72  retracts from the deployed second position to the contracted first position to fit inside the anchor catheter  58 . The outer sheath  56  containing the occluder device  80  may then be removed from the LAA  64 , or the occluder device  80  may be re-deployed in a more optimal location of the LAA  64 . If the occluder device  80  is removed from the LAA  64 , the anchor catheter  58  may be retrieved thereafter, allowing the first half  74  of the anchor  72  to expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the LAA  64 . Thus, the deployed anchor  72  remains inside the LAA  64  and allows for occlusion of the small hole  70  that was created by the pericardial catheter  54  through the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  66 . 
         [0118]    Illustrated in  FIG. 18 , if a determination is made that optimal placement of the anchor  72  was not achieved, the anchor  72  may be released from the anchor cable  82  and deployed alone within the LAA wall  66  to plug the small hole  70  and prevent fluids from entering the pericardial space  68 . The delivery wire  60  and buddy wire  62  may be subsequently removed from the LAA  64 . This allows for a new anchor  72  to be placed within the LAA wall  66  using the method cited above for achieving optimal placement of the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64 . On the other hand, if a determination is made that the anchor  72  is initially placed in an optimal location within the LAA wall  66  but there are problems with the occluder device  80 , a second occluder device may be advanced over the inner sheath  58  and deployed within the LAA  64  using the method cited above. Thus, the method of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  80  into the LAA  64  using anchor  72 , safely retrieve or re-deploy the occluder device  80  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, with an option to re-implant a new occluder device and new anchor in an optimal location of the LAA  24 . After optimal placement of the occluder device  80  within the LAA  64  is achieved, the delivery wire  60  and buddy wire  62  may be removed from the LAA  64 . 
         [0119]      FIG. 19  illustrates yet a further aspect of the present invention, an anchoring system  90  for implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA. The anchoring system  90  may comprise a pericardial catheter  94 , wherein the pericardial catheter  94  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  90  may further comprise an outer sheath  96  and an inner sheath  98 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized by the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The pericardial catheter  94  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  100  and/or a buddy wire  102 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  100  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  102  may range between approximately 0.008-0.025 inches. 
         [0120]    Further shown in  FIG. 19 , the outer sheath  96  may be inserted into LAA  104  via the left atrium proper of the heart by crossing the atrial septum using a transeptal procedure to a LAA wall  106 . If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  104  from the left atrium proper. Expanding the balloon occlusion may improve stabilization of the outer sheath  96  within the LAA  104  and allow for better imaging of the LAA  104  by an interventional cardiologist. The pericardial catheter  94  may be advanced through the outer sheath  96  to the LAA wall  106 . The buddy wire  102  is next advanced through the pericardial catheter  94  and the adjacent LAA wall  106 , wherein the buddy wire  102  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  108 . The pericardial catheter  94  is next advanced over the buddy wire  104  and through the LAA wall  106 , penetrating the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  108 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  94  creates a small hole  110  through the LAA wall  106  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110 . While the pericardial catheter  94  remains inside the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110 , the delivery wire  100  may then be advanced through the pericardial catheter  94 , wherein the delivery wire  100  enters the pericardial space  108 . The pericardial catheter  94  may then be removed from the outer sheath  96 , leaving the delivery wire  100  and the buddy wire  102  inside the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110  in the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0121]    Illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the anchoring system  90  of the present invention further comprises an occluder device  120  and an occluder cable  124 . It is contemplated that the anchoring system  90  of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  120  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  120  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  120  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. 
         [0122]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , the occluder cable  124  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The occluder cable  124  may be attached to the occluder device  120 , wherein the occluder cable  124  may be used for deploying and retrieving the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104 . The occluder device  120  and the occluder cable  124  may encompass the inner sheath  98 , wherein the inner sheath  98  may traverse through an inner lumen of the occluder device  120  and an inner lumen of the occluder cable  124 . The occluder device  120  may reside between the inner sheath  98  and the outer sheath  96 . 
         [0123]    As further shown in  FIG. 20 , the inner sheath  98  may be advanced through the outer sheath  96  to the LAA wall  106  adjacent the small hole  110 . Particularly, the delivery wire  100  may traverse through the inner sheath  98 , the occluder device  120 , and the occluder cable  124 . The buddy wire  102  may reside outside the inner sheath  98  and yet inside the outer sheath  96 . 
         [0124]    As also shown in  FIG. 20 , the inner sheath  98  may comprise an anchor  112  and an anchor cable  122 . The anchor cable  122  may be attached to the anchor  112 , wherein the anchor cable  122  may be used for deploying the anchor  112  within the LAA wall  106 . The anchor cable  122  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The anchor cable  122  and anchor  112  may encompass the delivery wire  100 , wherein the delivery wire  100  may traverse through an inner lumen of the anchor  112  and an inner lumen of the anchor cable  122 . The delivery wire  100  may be used to navigate the anchoring system  90  through the LAA  104 . Alternatively, the anchor  112  and anchor cable  122  may be advanced through the inner sheath  98  into the pericardial space  108  without using the delivery wire  100 . The buddy wire  102  may remain inside the pericardial space  108  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  102  allows an interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  106  and place a plug within the small hole  110  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  112  or the occluder device  120 . 
         [0125]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 21A and 21B , the anchor  112  may have an elongate contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) (e.g., straight—coil) when the delivery wire  100  is traversing the inner lumen of the anchor  112 , and a deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ) (e.g., double-coil) when the delivery wire  100  has been removed from the inner lumen of the anchor  112 . The delivery wire  100  when inside the inner lumen of the anchor  112  straightens the anchor  112  from its natural coiled state (deployed second position) into the elongated straight-coil (contracted first position). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ), the anchor  112  has a diameter of approximately 0.5-2 mm and a length of approximately 2-40 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the anchor  112  may comprise a first coil  114 , a second coil  116 , wherein the first coil  114  and second coil  116  are connected together by a shaft  118 . In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the first coil  114  and second coil  116  expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-15 mm in diameter, the shaft  118  remains approximately 0.5-2 mm in diameter, wherein the total length of the anchor  112  is approximately 1-10 mm. The anchor  112  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ). 
         [0126]    Illustrated in  FIG. 21B , the first coil  114  and second coil  116  of the anchor  112  may be shaped like circular disks, although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the present invention. For instance, the anchor coils  114 ,  116  may comprise a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The anchor  112  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  112  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  112  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  112  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0127]    Illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the anchor  112  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) may be advanced through the inner sheath  98  using the anchor cable  122  and the delivery wire  100 , wherein the anchor  112  is further advanced through the small hole  110  to penetrate the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . The delivery wire  100  may then be retracted, allowing the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 . While the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  118  and the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  remain temporarily in the contracted first position. 
         [0128]    Illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the inner sheath  98  adjacent the LAA wall  106  may be retracted along with the delivery wire  100 , allowing the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . The occluder device  120  remains inside the outer sheath  96  adjacent the LAA wall  106 . The shaft  118  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106 . The second coil  116  of the anchor  112  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 , wherein the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Alternatively, the anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  120  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be advanced together through the inner sheath  98 , wherein the anchor  112  is implanted in the LAA wall  106  using the system  90  of the present invention described above. 
         [0129]    Illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the outer sheath  96  may be retracted to allow the occluder device  120  to expand inside the LAA  104 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  96  allows the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Thus, the shaft  118  of the anchor  112  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  120 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  120  pinches down on the shaft  118 . Furthermore, the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  120  against the LAA wall  106 , wherein the anchor  112  effectively moors the occluder device  120  inside the LAA  104 . At this time the expanded anchor  112  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  120  in an implanted position within the LAA  104 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  120  via the anchor  112  through all three layers of the LAA wall  106 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  90  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. The second coil  116  located within the pericardial space  108  may unwind in a clockwise fashion, while the first coil  114  located in the LAA  104  may unwind in an reverse-clockwise fashion. Thus, there would be counter-forces acting on the coils, wherein the second coil  116  exerts proximal traction and the first coil  114  exerts distal traction against opposite sides of the LAA wall  106 . Such counter-forces discourage the anchor  112  from unraveling while in the deployed second position within the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0130]    The anchor cable  122  remains attached to the anchor  112  and the occluder cable  124  remains attached to the occluder device  120  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  120 . If no problems arise and it is determined that the occluder device  120  is in an optimal location of the LAA  104 , the occluder cable  124  may be detached from the occluder device  120  and removed from the LAA  104 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  122  may be detached from the anchor  112  and removed from the LAA  104 . The buddy wire  102  and delivery wire  100  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  106 , leaving the occluder device  120  anchored securely in the LAA  104  by the anchoring system  90  of the present invention. 
         [0131]      FIG. 25  illustrates the anchoring system  90  of the present invention if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  120 . For instance, it may be determined that the occluder device  120  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  104  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. In this situation—prior to release of the occluder cable  124  from the occluder device  120  and the anchor cable  122  from the anchor  112 —the outer sheath  96  may be advanced over the occluder device  120 , wherein the occluder device  120  is retracted inside the outer sheath  96  using the occluder cable  124 . The delivery wire  100  may be further advanced through the anchor cable  112  and first coil  114  of the anchor  112 , wherein the first coil  114  retracts from the deployed second position to the contracted first position and may be retrieved inside the inner sheath  98 . The outer sheath  96  containing the occluder device  120  may then be removed from the LAA  104 , or the occluder device  120  may be re-deployed in a more optimal location of the LAA  104 . If the occluder device  120  is removed from the LAA  104 , the delivery wire  100  may be retrieved thereafter, allowing the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to re-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the LAA  104 . Thus, the deployed anchor  112  remains inside the LAA  104  and allows for occlusion of the small hole  110  that was created by the pericardial catheter  94  through the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0132]    Illustrated in  FIG. 26 , if optimal placement of the occluder device  120  was not achieved the anchor  112  may be released from the anchor cable  122  and deployed alone within the LAA wall  106 . This allows for a new anchor  112  to be placed within the LAA wall  106  using the anchoring system  90  cited above for achieving optimal placement of the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104 . On the other hand, if the anchor  112  is initially placed in an optimal location within the LAA wall  106  but there are problems with the occluder device  120 , a second occluder device may be advanced using the inner sheath  98  and deployed within the LAA  104  using the anchoring system  90  cited above. Thus, the anchoring system  90  of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  120  into the LAA  104  using anchor  112 , safely retrieve or re-deploy the occluder device  120  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, with an option to re-implant a new occluder device and new anchor in an optimal location of the LAA  104 . After optimal placement of the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104  is achieved, the delivery wire  100  and the buddy wire  102  may be removed from the LAA  104 . 
         [0133]    In another aspect of the present invention, an anchor  112  is provided for anchoring an occluder device  120  within a LAA  104 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 21A and 21B , the anchor  112  may have an elongate contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) (e.g., straight—coil) when a delivery wire  100  is traversing an inner lumen of the anchor  112 , and a deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ) (e.g., double-coil) when the delivery wire  100  has been removed from the inner lumen of the anchor  112 . The delivery wire  100  when inside the inner lumen of the anchor  112  straightens the anchor  112  from its natural coiled state (deployed second position) into the elongated straight-coil (contracted first position). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ), the anchor  112  has a diameter of approximately 0.5-2 mm and a length of approximately 2-40 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the anchor  112  may comprise a first coil  114 , a second coil  116 , wherein the first coil  114  and second coil  116  are connected together by a shaft  118 . In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the first coil  114  and second coil  116  expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-15 mm in diameter, the shaft  118  remains approximately 0.5-2 mm in diameter, wherein the total length of the anchor  112  is approximately 1-10 mm. The anchor  112  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ). 
         [0134]    Illustrated in  FIG. 21B , the first coil  114  and second coil  116  of the anchor  112  may be shaped like circular disks, although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the present invention. For instance, the anchor coils  114 ,  116  may comprise a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The anchor  112  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  112  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  112  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  112  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0135]    It is contemplated that the anchor  112  of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  120  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  120  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  120  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. 
         [0136]    Illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the anchor  112  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) may be advanced through an inner sheath  98  using an anchor cable  122  and the delivery wire  100 , wherein the anchor  112  is further advanced through a small hole  110  in an LAA wall  106  to penetrate the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into pericardial space  68 . The delivery wire  100  may then be retracted, allowing the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 . While the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  118  and the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  remain temporarily in the contracted first position. 
         [0137]    Illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the inner sheath  98  adjacent the LAA wall  106  may be retracted along with the delivery wire  100 , allowing the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . The occluder device  120  remains inside an outer sheath  96  adjacent the LAA wall  106 . The shaft  118  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106 . The second coil  116  of the anchor  112  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 , wherein the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Alternatively, the anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  120  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be advanced together through the inner sheath  98 , wherein the anchor  112  is implanted in the LAA wall  106  using the system  90  of the present invention described above. 
         [0138]    Illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the outer sheath  96  may be retracted to allow the occluder device  120  to expand inside the LAA  104 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  96  allows the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Thus, the shaft  118  of the anchor  112  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  120 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  120  pinches down on the shaft  118 . Furthermore, the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  120  against the LAA wall  106 , wherein the anchor  112  effectively moors the occluder device  120  inside the LAA  104 . At this time the expanded anchor  112  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  120  in an implanted position within the LAA  104 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  120  via the anchor  112  through all three layers of the LAA wall  106 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the anchoring system  90  of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. The second coil  116  located within the pericardial space  108  may unwind in a clockwise fashion, while the first coil  114  located in the LAA  104  may unwind in an reverse-clockwise fashion. Thus, there would be counter-forces acting on the coils, wherein the second coil  116  exerts proximal traction and the first coil  114  exerts distal traction against opposite sides of the LAA wall  106 . Such counter-forces discourage the anchor  112  from unraveling while in the deployed second position within the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0139]    The anchor cable  122  remains attached to the anchor  112  and an occluder cable  124  remains attached to the occluder device  120  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  120 . If no problems arise and it is determined that the occluder device  120  is in an optimal location of the LAA  104 , the occluder cable  124  may be detached from the occluder device  120  and removed from the LAA  104 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  122  may be detached from the anchor  112  and removed from the LAA  104 . The delivery wire  100  and/or a buddy wire  102  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  106 , leaving the occluder device  120  anchored securely in the LAA  104  by the anchoring system  90  of the present invention. 
         [0140]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of implanting and retrieving an occluder device within a LAA is illustrated in  FIG. 19 . The method of the present invention comprises providing an anchoring system  90 . The anchoring system  90  may comprise a pericardial catheter  94 , wherein the pericardial catheter  94  may be a single or double-lumen pericardial catheter. The anchoring system  90  may further comprise an outer sheath  96  and an inner sheath  98 . A balloon-occlusion catheter may also be utilized by the present invention. However, it is intended that other catheters standard in the industry may also be utilized. The pericardial catheter  94  may be configured to fit a delivery wire  100  and/or a buddy wire  102 , also standardly used in the industry. A diameter of the delivery wire  100  may range between approximately 0.025-0.052 inches and a diameter of the buddy wire  102  may range between approximately 0.008-0.025 inches. 
         [0141]    Further shown in  FIG. 19 , the method of the present invention further comprises inserting the outer sheath  96  into LAA  104  via the left atrium proper of the heart by crossing the atrial septum using a transeptal procedure to the LAA wall  106 . If a balloon-occlusion catheter has been utilized, the balloon occlusion may be expanded to occlude the LAA  104  from the left atrium proper. Expanding the balloon occlusion may improve stabilization of the outer sheath  96  within the LAA  104  and allow for better imaging of the LAA  104  by an interventional cardiologist. The pericardial catheter  94  may be advanced through the outer sheath  96  to the LAA wall  106 . The buddy wire  102  is next advanced through the pericardial catheter  94  and the adjacent LAA wall  106 , wherein the buddy wire  102  penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  108 . The pericardial catheter  94  is next advanced over the buddy wire  104  and through the LAA wall  106 , penetrating the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  108 . Thus, the pericardial catheter  94  creates a small hole  110  through the LAA wall  106  of the heart. If utilized, the expanded balloon occlusion of the balloon-occlusion catheter decreases the likelihood of fluid accumulating within the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110 . While the pericardial catheter  94  remains inside the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110 , the delivery wire  100  may then be advanced through the pericardial catheter  94 , wherein the delivery wire  100  enters the pericardial space  108 . The pericardial catheter  94  may then be removed from the outer sheath  96 , leaving the delivery wire  100  and the buddy wire  102  inside the pericardial space  108  via the small hole  110  in the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0142]    Illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an occluder device  120  and an occluder cable  124 . It is contemplated that the method of the present invention may be used with a diverse range of LAA occluder devices  120  such as coil implants, foam plugs, expandable frames, combinations thereof, and other occluder devices currently used in the industry and/or to be developed in the future. Specific examples of occluder devices  120  that may be used by the present invention include, but are not limited to, WATCHMAN®, ATRICLIP®, PLAATO LAA Occlusion System®, AMPLATZER™, and AMULET™. In the present invention, the occluder device  120  may have a distal end with a hole approximately 1-5 mm in diameter. 
         [0143]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , the occluder cable  124  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The occluder cable  124  may be attached to the occluder device  120 , wherein the occluder cable  124  may be used for deploying and retrieving the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104 . The occluder device  120  and the occluder cable  124  may encompass the inner sheath  98 , wherein the inner sheath  98  may traverse through an inner lumen of the occluder device  120  and an inner lumen of the occluder cable  124 . The occluder device  120  may reside between the inner sheath  98  and the outer sheath  96 . 
         [0144]    As further shown in  FIG. 20 , the method of the present invention comprises advancing the inner sheath  98  through the outer sheath  96  to the LAA wall  106  adjacent the small hole  110 . Particularly, the delivery wire  100  may traverse through the inner sheath  98 , the occluder device  120 , and the occluder cable  124 . The buddy wire  102  may reside outside the inner sheath  98  and yet inside the outer sheath  96 . 
         [0145]    Also shown in  FIG. 20 , the method of the present invention further comprises providing an anchor  112  and an anchor cable  122 . The anchor cable  122  may be attached to the anchor  112 , wherein the anchor cable  122  may be used for deploying the anchor  112  within the LAA wall  106 . The anchor cable  122  may be a hollow coaxial cable standardly used in the industry. The anchor cable  122  and anchor  112  may encompass the delivery wire  100 , wherein the delivery wire  100  may traverse through an inner lumen of the anchor  112  and an inner lumen of the anchor cable  122 . The delivery wire  100  may be used to navigate the anchoring system  90  through the LAA  104 . Alternatively, the anchor  112  and anchor cable  122  may be advanced through the inner sheath  98  into the pericardial space  108  without using the delivery wire  100 . The buddy wire  102  may remain inside the pericardial space  108  and is a safety feature in case of emergencies. The buddy wire  102  allows an interventional cardiologist to advance another catheter through the LAA wall  106  and place a plug within the small hole  110  if a malfunction is observed with the anchor  112  or the occluder device  120 . 
         [0146]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 21A and 21B , the anchor  112  may have an elongate contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) (e.g., straight—coil) when the delivery wire  100  is traversing the inner lumen of the anchor  112 , and a deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ) (e.g., double-coil) when the delivery wire  100  has been removed from the inner lumen of the anchor  112 . The delivery wire  100  when inside the inner lumen of the anchor  112  straightens the anchor  112  from its natural coiled state (deployed second position) into the elongated straight-coil (contracted first position). In the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ), the anchor  112  has a diameter of approximately 0.5-2 mm and a length of approximately 2-40 mm. In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the anchor  112  may comprise a first coil  114 , a second coil  116 , wherein the first coil  114  and second coil  116  are connected together by a shaft  118 . In the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ), the first coil  114  and second coil  116  expand outwards a distance of approximately 5-15 mm in diameter, the shaft  118  remains approximately 0.5-2 mm in diameter, wherein the total length of the anchor  112  is approximately 1-10 mm. The anchor  112  may self-expand from the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) to the deployed second position ( FIG. 21B ). 
         [0147]    Illustrated in  FIG. 21B , the first coil  114  and second coil  116  of the anchor  112  may be shaped like circular disks, although it is contemplated that other anchor shapes may also be utilized in the method of the present invention. For instance, the anchor coils  114 ,  116  may comprise a square, rectangle, flat, sphere, circle, oval, pentagon, octagon, or any other shape. The anchor  112  may be circular in diameter, however, it is contemplated that other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized, including but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, and octagonal depending on the manufacturing technique. The anchor  112  may be comprised of stainless steel, platinum, Nitinol, Elgiloy or other materials standardly used in the industry. The anchor  112  may also comprise antibiotics, drugs that prevent the LAA pericardium wall from bleeding, ePTFE, any variety of materials which facilitate cellular in-growth, hydrogel, anticoagulants, fibrin hairs and/or other pharmaceuticals. The anchor  112  may further include barbs, points, bristles, spurs, screws, hooks, pins, sutures, adhesives, pledgets, or other means of attachment. 
         [0148]    Illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the method of the present invention comprises advancing the anchor  112  in the contracted first position ( FIG. 21A ) through the inner sheath  98  using the anchor cable  122  and the delivery wire  100 , wherein the anchor  112  is further advanced through the small hole  110  to penetrate the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106  to extend into the pericardial space  68 . The delivery wire  100  may then be retracted, allowing the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 . While the second coil  116  of the anchor  112  is in the deployed second position, the shaft  118  and the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  remain temporarily in the contracted first position. 
         [0149]    Illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the method of the present invention comprises retracting the inner sheath  98  adjacent the LAA wall  106 , along with the delivery wire  100 , to allow the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to self-expand from the contracted first position to a partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . The occluder device  120  remains inside the outer sheath  96  adjacent the LAA wall  106 . The shaft  118  resides inside the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106 . The second coil  116  of the anchor  112  remains in the deployed second position within the pericardial space  108 , wherein the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  is in the partially deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Alternatively, the anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be integral, wherein the occluder device  120  may be a coil occluder device. Thus, the integral anchor  112  and occluder device  120  may be advanced together through the inner sheath  98 , wherein the anchor  112  is implanted in the LAA wall  106  using the system  90  of the present invention described above. 
         [0150]    Illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the method of the present invention comprises retracting the outer sheath  96  to allow the occluder device  120  to expand inside the LAA  104 . Moreover, retracting the outer sheath  96  allows the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to fully expand into the deployed second position within the occluder device  120 . Thus, the shaft  118  of the anchor  112  may extend through the hole in the distal end of the occluder device  120 , wherein the distal end of the occluder device  120  pinches down on the shaft  118 . Furthermore, the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  in the deployed second position may pin the occluder device  120  against the LAA wall  106 , wherein the anchor  112  effectively moors the occluder device  120  inside the LAA  104 . At this time the expanded anchor  112  in the deployed second position covers a large surface area and therefore retains the occluder device  120  in an implanted position within the LAA  104 . Moreover, by anchoring the occluder device  120  via the anchor  112  through all three layers of the LAA wall  106 —instead of merely latching onto the thin endocardium layer—the method of the present invention lowers the risk of embolization. The second coil  116  located within the pericardial space  108  may unwind in a clockwise fashion, while the first coil  114  located in the LAA  104  may unwind in an reverse-clockwise fashion. Thus, there would be counter-forces acting on the coils, wherein the second coil  116  exerts proximal traction and the first coil  114  exerts distal traction against opposite sides of the LAA wall  106 . Such counter-forces discourage the anchor  112  from unraveling while in the deployed second position within the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0151]    The anchor cable  122  remains attached to the anchor  112  and the occluder cable  124  remains attached to the occluder device  120  in case problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  120 . If no problems arise and a determination is made that the occluder device  120  is in an optimal location of the LAA  104 , the occluder cable  124  may be detached from the occluder device  120  and removed from the LAA  104 . Furthermore, the anchor cable  122  may be detached from the anchor  112  and removed from the LAA  104 . The buddy wire  102  and delivery wire  100  may also be withdrawn from the LAA  106 , leaving the occluder device  120  anchored securely in the LAA  104  by the method of the present invention. 
         [0152]      FIG. 25  illustrates the method of the present invention if problems arise after deployment of the occluder device  120 . For instance, the method comprises making a determination that the occluder device  120  is not placed in an optimal location of the LAA  104  after deployment to achieve maximum occlusion. In this situation—prior to release of the occluder cable  124  from the occluder device  120  and the anchor cable  122  from the anchor  112 —the outer sheath  96  may be advanced over the occluder device  120 , wherein the occluder device  120  is retracted inside the outer sheath  96  using the occluder cable  124 . The delivery wire  100  may be further advanced through the anchor cable  112  and first coil  114  of the anchor  112 , wherein the first coil  114  retracts from the deployed second position to the contracted first position and may be retrieved inside the inner sheath  98 . The outer sheath  96  containing the occluder device  120  may then be removed from the LAA  104 , or the occluder device  120  may be re-deployed in a more optimal location of the LAA  104 . If the occluder device  120  is removed from the LAA  104 , the delivery wire  100  may be retrieved thereafter, allowing the first coil  114  of the anchor  112  to re-expand from the contracted first position to the deployed second position within the LAA  104 . Thus, the deployed anchor  112  remains inside the LAA  104  and allows for occlusion of the small hole  110  that was created by the pericardial catheter  94  through the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of the LAA wall  106 . 
         [0153]    Illustrated in  FIG. 26 , if a determination is made that optimal placement of the anchor  112  was not achieved, the anchor  112  may be released from the anchor cable  122  and deployed alone within the LAA wall  106 . This allows for a new anchor  112  to be placed within the LAA wall  106  using the method cited above for achieving optimal placement of the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104 . On the other hand, if the anchor  112  is initially placed in an optimal location within the LAA wall  106  but there are problems with the occluder device  120 , a second occluder device may be advanced using the inner sheath  98  and deployed within the LAA  104  using the method cited above. Thus, the method of the present invention allows an interventional cardiologist to quickly and cost-effectively implant the occluder device  120  into the LAA  104  using anchor  112 , safely retrieve or re-deploy the occluder device  120  if initial placement was improper or if complications arise, with an option to re-implant a new occluder device and new anchor in an optimal location of the LAA  104 . After optimal placement of the occluder device  120  within the LAA  104  is achieved, the delivery wire  100  and the buddy wire  102  may be removed from the LAA  104 .