Patent ID: 7686828

Claim:
A method of treating a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in an atrial septal wall of a heart, the PFO defined by a septum primum and the septum secundum, comprising: inserting a treatment system into the vasculature of a human patient having a PFO, wherein the treatment system comprises: a first elongate flexible tubular member including a lumen with an open distal end; a second elongate member including a lumen with an open distal end, the second elongate member being configured to slidably receive the first elongate member within the lumen; a third elongate member; and a tissue engagement device coupled with the first and second elongate members; advancing the treatment system through an inferior vena cava and into a right atrium of the patient's heart; engaging the septum secundum with the tissue engagement device, wherein engaging the septum secundum with the tissue engagement device comprises grasping opposite sides of the septum secundum with opposing members of the tissue engagement device such that the opposing members are each in contact with an opposite side of the septum secundum, the opposing members being pivotally coupled together and being non-releasably coupled to the treatment system, wherein a first one of the opposing members is a rigid, arm-like member having a first end pivotally coupled with the second elongate member by way of a first hinge and a second end pivotally coupled with the first elongate member by way of a second hinge, and wherein grasping the septum secundum anchors the treatment system to the septum secundum, and wherein a distal portion of the second elongate member comprises an elongate open channel proximal to the first hinge, the elongate open channel being configured to receive the length of the first elongate member outside the lumen of the second elongate member, and wherein engaging the septum secundum with the tissue engagement device further comprises, prior to grasping opposite sides of the septum secundum, moving the first elongate member proximally with respect to the second elongate member to raise the arm-like member from the second elongate member; deflecting the first elongate member by moving the first elongate member distally with respect to the second elongate member such that a length of the first elongate member, outside the lumen of the second elongate member and located along a side of the second elongate member, arcs outward away from the side of the second elongate body member and rotates the open distal end with respect to the septum secundum; and advancing, after deflecting the first elongate member, the third elongate member from within the lumen of the first elongate member and through the septum secundum.