EU clears St. Jude's updated Amplatzer occluder

Editorial Staff | | Cardiovascular Business | Heart Rhythm

St. Jude Medical has received European CE Mark approval of its Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder device, which is used to close the LAA in patients diagnosed with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

The company said that the next-generation percutaneous transcatheter device leverages the design and clinical success of the original Amplatzer cardiac plug with additional features, allowing treatment of a wider range of appendage anatomies. The LAA is a tube-shaped appendage connected to the left atrium of the heart that can potentially hold static blood during an episode of AF, increasing the likelihood of clot formation. Self-expanding and made of braided nitinol mesh, consistent with the entire family of Amplatzer devices, the Amulet occluder works by blocking the LAA at its opening.

This next-generation occlusion device is built with a longer lobe and waist than previous versions, according to the St. Paul, Minn.-based St. Jude. The Amplatzer Amulet device is offered in eight sizes to accommodate varying anatomies. Additionally, the device is preloaded into the delivery catheter.

The Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage occluder is not yet approved for use in the U.S.

Editorial Staff

Related Content

Eko Health’s AI platform for digital stethoscopes granted new CPT code
Predicting sudden cardiac death after a heart attack may be impossible—for now
Concomitant ablation surgery during heart operations boosts long-term survival
Johnson & Johnson MedTech gains FDA approval for Varipulse PFA system
Boston Scientific agrees to acquire AFib ablation company
Heart Rhythm Society launches new group focused on EP advocacy

Around the web

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Radiology Business
What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Design by Adaptive Theme
Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup