Articulated center post

Abstract

This invention relates to an occlusion device for the heart, having an articulated center post which prevents rotation of the individual occluder elements around the center post, while allowing 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 comprising: 
 a first occluding body;    a second occluding body; and    a center section including a ball and socket joint and means for limiting rotation of the first occluding body relative to the second occluding body.    
   
   
       2 . The occlusion device of  claim 1  wherein the means for limiting rotation of the first occluding body relative to the second occluding body includes interlocking elements.  
   
   
       3 . The occlusion device of  claim 2  wherein the interlocking elements include a peg on a ball of the ball and socket joint and a groove on a socket of the ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       4 . The occlusion device of  claim 2  wherein the interlocking elements include a groove on a ball of the ball and socket joint and a peg on a socket of the ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       5 . An occlusion device comprising: 
 a first collapsible support frame;    a second collapsible support frame;    a first center support having a first body, a first neck, and a first head, the first body connected to the first collapsible support frame;    a second center support having a second body, a second neck, and a second head, the second body connected to the second collapsible support frame;    a center connector providing an articulated connection between the first center support and the second center support, the center connector including a first socket in which the first head is movable and a second socket in which the second head is movable;    a first sheet attached to the first collapsible support frame;    means for preventing rotation of the first head in the first socket; and    means for preventing rotation of the second head in the second socket.    
   
   
       6 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  and further comprising: 
 a second sheet attached to the second collapsible support frame.    
   
   
       7 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein each of the first and second collapsible support frames includes a plurality of arms.  
   
   
       8 . The occlusion device of  claim 7  wherein the first collapsible support frame is oriented relative to the second collapsible support frame to offset the arms of the first collapsible support frame from the arms of the second collapsible support frame.  
   
   
       9 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein the center connector includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve.  
   
   
       10 . The occlusion device of  claim 9  wherein the first sleeve contains the first socket.  
   
   
       11 . The occlusion device of  claim 10  wherein the second sleeve contains the second socket.  
   
   
       12 . The occlusion device of  claim 11  wherein the first sleeve and second sleeve connect to each other.  
   
   
       13 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the first head in the first socket includes a channel in the first socket.  
   
   
       14 . The occlusion device of  claim 13  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the first head in the first socket further includes a peg on the first head that is movable in the channel in the first socket.  
   
   
       15 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the second head in the second socket includes a channel in the second socket.  
   
   
       16 . The occlusion device of  claim 15  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the second head in the second socket further includes a peg on the second head that is movable in the channel in the second socket.  
   
   
       17 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the first head in the first socket includes a peg in the first socket.  
   
   
       18 . The occlusion device of  claim 17  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the first head in the first socket further includes a channel on the first head for receiving the peg in the first socket.  
   
   
       19 . The occlusion device of  claim 5  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the second head in the second socket includes a peg in the second socket.  
   
   
       20 . The occlusion device of  claim 19  wherein the means for preventing rotation of the second head in the second socket further includes a channel on the second head for receiving the peg in the second socket.  
   
   
       21 . A center connection for an occlusion device, the center connection comprising: 
 a first center post having a first body, a first neck, and a first head;    a second center post having a second body, a second neck, and a second head; and    a center connector that engages the first head and the second head to permit articulated movement of the first and second center posts while preventing rotational movement of the first and second center posts with respect to the center connector.    
   
   
       22 . The center connection of  claim 21  wherein the center connector further comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve.  
   
   
       23 . The center connector of  claim 22  wherein the second sleeve has a cuff at a proximal end for attachment to the first sleeve.  
   
   
       24 . The center connection of  claim 22  wherein the center connector includes a peg.  
   
   
       25 . The center connection of  claim 22  wherein the first and second heads each comprise a channel which receives a peg on the center connector.  
   
   
       26 . The center connection of  claim 22  wherein the center connector includes a channel.  
   
   
       27 . The center connection of  claim 22  wherein the first and second heads each include a peg which engages a channel on the center connector.