Next-Generation Occluder Reduces Stroke Risk

A novel occluder closes the left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients diagnosed with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), potentially reducing the risk of stroke.

The Amplatzer Amulet LAA occluder is a self-expanding, braided Nitinol mesh that blocks the LAA at its aperture, minimizing the opportunity for blood clots to form or migrate into the bloodstream. The next-generation device is built with a longer lobe and waist than previous versions to allow for easier placement, and an end screw that is set flush with the occluding disc, creating a smooth surface within the left atrium. The large disc diameter offers increased orifice coverage. The device is preloaded into the delivery catheter, which simplifies device preparation and ultimately streamlines the entire procedure for the physician.


The Amplatzer Amulet LAA device is a product of St. Jude Medical (SJM; St. Paul, MN, USA) and is offered in eight sizes to accommodate varying anatomies.

“Feedback from implanting physicians who have used our first-generation product has been instrumental to improving an already successful device,” said Frank J. Callaghan, president of the cardiovascular and ablation technologies division at SJM. “We are pleased to offer a next-generation LAA occluder that addresses a wider range of patient anatomies, is easier to implant, and has the potential to further reduce the incidence of stroke in AF patients.”

The LAA is a tube-shaped appendage connected to the left atrium that can potentially hold static blood during an episode of AF, increasing the likelihood of clot formation; research shows that in AF patients, approximately 90% of all cardiac blood clots form in the LAA. If a clot forms in the LAA and is then released into the heart, it may enter blood circulation, travel to the brain, block a vessel, and cause an ischemic stroke.

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