CLOSURE PROSTHESIS FOR TRANSCATHETER PLACEMENT

摘要

A closure prosthesis and transcatheter delivery system are disclosed, wherein the closure prosthesis seals across an opening of a fluid passageway within a living body. The closure prosthesis is a flexible disk (10) including a flexible ring (12) and diaphragm (14) having a plurality of hollow flexible wire segments (18) attached thereto. Delivery of the closure prosthesis is accomplished using a hollow sheath (26) and a pusher catheter (28) slidable within the sheath, wherein filaments are looped through the wire segments to releasably connect the disk to the pusher catheter. The disk is resiliently compressed within the sheath and, upon release therefrom, the disk resiliently expands into a larger, unrestrained shape. Tension applied to the filaments resiliently bends the wire segments so that they may be drawn through the opening of the defect. Upon releasing the filaments from the disk, the wire segements resiliently expand to trap the disk in place to seal across the opening.