Patent ID: 7887562

Claim:
A tissue opening occluder for placement in an opening formed by overlapping septa of a patent foramen ovale (PFO), the overlapping septa forming a PFO tunnel having a substantially planar geometry with a length extending between the left atrium and right atrium of a patient and a width, the tissue opening occluder comprising: an occluder panel configured to be positioned within one of the atria of the patient the occluder panel having a periphery and a central portion; a substantially planar anchor with a width and a length substantially greater than a thickness thereof, and a linking element that directly connects the sub substantially planar anchor to the central portion of the occluder panel, the substantially planar anchor configured to simultaneously extend through, engage, and conform to the substantially planar geometry inside of the PFO tunnel between the left and right atria when the occluder panel is positioned in one of the atria, the length of the substantially planar anchor configured to be at least as long as the length of the PFO tunnel, and the width of the substantially planar anchor configured to be sized and conformable to fit within the width of the PFO tunnel and being sufficiently wide to anchor the occluder panel in place in one of the atria of the patient, the substantially planar structure comprising a resilient portion configured to allow the anchor to expand into tensioned engagement with portions of the interior of the PFO tunnel to secure the anchor into position in the PFO tunnel.