Patent ID: 7678132

Claim:
A method of treating a patent foramen ovale in septal tissue of a septal wall with a treatment system, the patent foramen ovale defined by a septum primum and a septum secundum with a tunnel separating them, and the treatment system comprising an elongate body member, an elongate delivery device, and a grasping device comprising a rigid arm-like member with a first end pivotally coupled with the body member and a second end pivotally coupled with the delivery device by way of a hinge, wherein the body member comprises an elongate open channel extending along a length of the side of the body member proximal to the hinge, the elongate open channel being configured to receive a side of the delivery device, and the body member further comprises a lumen having an open distal end located proximal to the elongate open channel, the delivery device being slidably housed within the lumen, wherein the body member and the delivery device are each configured for insertion into the vasculature, the method comprising: moving the delivery device with respect to the body member to cause the arm-like member to pivot and move a distal region of the delivery device relatively further away from the body member; grasping opposite sides of the septum secundum with opposing surfaces of the grasping device such that the opposing surfaces are each in contact with an opposite side of the septum secundum, the opposing surfaces being non-releasably coupled to a delivery device, wherein a first one of the opposing surfaces is located on the arm-like member; piercing a hole in the septum secundum and septum primum, with a needle having a lumen which houses a closure device, while grasping the septum secundum; and deploying the closure device such that a first end of the closure device is in contact with the septum primum and a second end of the closure device is in contact with the septum secundum.