OCCLUSION INSTRUMENT FOR CLOSING A CARDIAC AURICLE AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH AN OCCLUSION INSTRUMENT

摘要

The present invention relates to a self-expandable occlusion instrument (1) for closing a cardiac auricle in a patient’s heart, and to a method for producing such an instrument. The occlusion instrument (1) is composed of a lattice (10) of thin wires or filaments which is given a suitable shape by means of a forming and heat treatment process. The occlusion instrument (1) according to the invention is specifically made up of a proximal retention area (2), a distal retention area (3) and a middle area (5). To ensure that the occlusion instrument in the expanded and implanted state can be held particularly securely in the cardiac auricle of the patient without injuring the patient’s cardiac tissue, provision is made that the proximal retention area (2) has a flanged area (6) which, in the expanded state of the occlusion instrument (1), comes to bear against the inner walls of the auricle that is to be closed and establishes a force-fit connection with the inner walls of the auricle and thus holds the implanted and expanded occlusion instrument (1) in the auricle, while the distal retention area (3) closes the aperture of the auricle.