Articulated center post

Abstract

This invention relates to an occlusion device for the heart, having an articulated center post which allows the device to better conform to the contours of the heart to increase sealing abilities and reduce breakage resulting from conformation pressure.

1 . An occlusion device for the closure of a physical anomaly, the device comprising: 
 a first occluding body connected to a first support structure;    a second occluding body connected to a second support structure; and    a center post connecting the first and second support structure, the center post including a ball and socket joint.    
   
   
       2 . An occlusion device comprising: 
 a jointed center strut including a first strut section having a body, a neck and a ball, and a first sleeve having a socket that forms a ball and socket joint with the ball of the first strut section and an opening through which the neck extends between the ball and the body;    a first plurality of fixation devices extending from the body of the first strut section of the jointed center strut; and    a first sheet attached to the first plurality of fixation devices.    
   
   
       3 . The occlusion device of  claim 2  wherein the center strut further includes a second strut section having a body, a neck and a ball, and a second sleeve having a socket that forms a ball and socket joint with the second strut section and an opening through which the neck extends between the ball and the body.  
   
   
       4 . The occlusion device of  claim 3  and further comprising: 
 a second plurality of fixation devices extending from the body of the second strut section.    
   
   
       5 . The occlusion device of  claim 4  and further comprising: 
 a second sheet attached to the second plurality of fixation devices.    
   
   
       6 . An occlusion device comprising: 
 a jointed center strut having distal and proximal ends, the jointed center strut having a plurality of ball and socket joints;    a first set of wire support arms extending from the first part distal end of the jointed center strut;    a first sheet attached to the first set of arms;    a second set of wire support arms extending from the proximal end of the center strut; and    a second sheet attached to the second set of support arms.    
   
   
       7 . An occlusion device comprising: 
 a jointed center piece having a plurality of ball and socket joints;    first and second collapsible support frames spaced from one another and extending from the jointed center piece; and    first and second sheets attached to the first and second collapsible support frames respectively.