Atrial Fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in adults and an important cause of strokes. The Left Atrial Appendage is the site for thrombus formation in 90% of patients with AF. These patients are required to take anticoagulants (Coumadine) for prevention of clotting and therefore strokes.  Anticoagulant control is difficult, requiring frequent laboratory testing.

Occlusion of the LAA prevents clot formation in the pouch-like structure and decreases the risk of stroke. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of various devices to occlude and obliterate the LAA; a prospective study has also shown the superiority of device occlusion compared with anticoagulants in stroke prevention.  Several metallic devices have been used to occlude the Left Atrial Appendage; although most of them were effective, they had a small incidence of side-effects including perforations and embolization. Metallic devices are not ideal for LAA occlusion because damage can be caused by the stiffness of the wires and the hooks used for immobilization. In addition, many device sizes are required to accommodate the different shapes and sizes of the LAA.

The Transcatheter Patch is the best option for the occlusion of a structure such as the Left Atrial Appendage. Its balloon inflatable deployment method as well as its wireless design allows a single patch to take the size and shape of any LAA, decreasing the chance of partial occlusion and eliminating the need for device exchanges. The Transcatheter Patch is a soft device which cannot cause perforations. Furthermore it is made from bioabsorbable materials and is replaced by natural tissue over time, which prevents chronic erosions or other problems.