Patent ID: 8070826

Claim:
A method for treating a patent foramen ovale, comprising: advancing an implantable device through the vasculature of a subject and into a first atrial chamber of the heart, wherein the atrial septal wall of the heart has a patent foramen ovale characterized by a first tissue flap and a second tissue flap, at least a portion of the first tissue flap overlapping at least a portion of the second tissue flap to define a tunnel therebetween; and situating the implantable device within a first piercing in the portion of the first tissue flap overlapping the second tissue flap and within a second piercing in the portion of the second tissue flap, wherein situating the implantable device comprises engaging the first tissue flap with a first portion of the implantable device in a second atrial chamber of the heart and then engaging the second tissue flap with a second portion of the implantable device in the first atrial chamber of the heart, wherein the first and second tissue flaps are engaged such that the first tissue flap is held in contact with the second tissue flap to close the tunnel.