Patent ID: 7645285

Claim:
A clamping device for implantation into a patient and occluding an appendage of the heart of the patient, the device comprising: a clamp having at least first and second clamping portions adapted to be placed on opposite sides of the appendage, at least one of said first and second clamping portions being movable toward the other of said first and second clamping portions from an open position into a clamping position to occlude the appendage, said clamp comprising an annular shaped structure configured to surround the appendage in the open position and a flattened shape in the clamping position configured to occlude the hollow interior of the appendage, wherein said first and second clamping portions have tissue engaging surfaces for engaging the appendage in the clamping position, and said first and second clamping portions are surrounded by an annular fabric structure that promotes tissue ingrowth, said annular fabric structure forming a closed continuous configuration lengthwise around said annular shaped structure.