Left Atrial Appendage Closure

The left atrial appendage (LAA) of the heart is a common location where clots form in atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients that then embolism and cause a stroke. Closing off the LAA either surgically, with a clip or via transcatheter LAA closure device, closes the opening to the LAA to prevent clots from forming or embolizing. The clots are the reason why AFib patients need to be on anticoagulants. LAA occlusion (LAAO) enables patients to stop taking anticoagulation drugs. LAAO has been a rapidly growing segment of structural heart procedures since the approval of the first device, the Watchman, in 2015. Procedures are performed by electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologist or cardiac surgeons.

New data point to LAAO as a safe alternative to long-term drug therapy
At the end of the day, one electrophysiologist explained, these decisions should still be made on a case-by-case basis.
Deepak Bhatt discusses some of the most impactful trials at ACC 2026
Bhatt describes a mix of drug, device and strategy trials pointing to advances in cardiovascular science.
Gore completes acquisition of medtech company behind next-gen heart device
Gore has officially acquired Conformal Medical, the company known for an investigational LAAO device that uses a proprietary foam implant. The transaction was first announced in January.
Cardiologist develops new heart device that uses gel to reduce stroke risk in AFib patients
After years of implanting and studying LAAO devices, an interventional cardiologist with the University of Chicago has designed a new alternative that could reduce the risk of bleeding and save health systems money.
W. L. Gore & Associates to acquire medtech company behind foam-based LAAO system
Conformal Medical developed its CLAAS technology to help patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation reduce their risk of stroke without the use of anticoagulants. Back in August, the company raised $32 million to help ramp up research on the device.

One of the big late-breaking trials presented at the 2026 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions was the CHAMPION-AF, which showed left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) can offer a safe, non-drug alternative to anticoagulation therapy, even in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not at high risk for bleeding. First author of the study Shephal Doshi, MD, FACC, an electrophysiologist at Cedars Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, discussed the details of the trial. #LAAO #ACC #ACC26

New data point to LAAO as a safe alternative to long-term drug therapy

At the end of the day, one electrophysiologist explained, these decisions should still be made on a case-by-case basis.

To unpack the large number of lat-breaking trials at the American College of Cardiology 2026 meeting, Cardiovascular Business spoke in the above video interview with Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, FAHA, FESC, MSCAI, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, who highlighted several studies he felt had the most scientific impact. This included a mix of drug, device and strategy trials pointing to advances in cardiology. #ACC #ACC26

Deepak Bhatt discusses some of the most impactful trials at ACC 2026

Bhatt describes a mix of drug, device and strategy trials pointing to advances in cardiovascular science.

Gore completes acquisition of medtech company behind next-gen heart device

Gore has officially acquired Conformal Medical, the company known for an investigational LAAO device that uses a proprietary foam implant. The transaction was first announced in January.

After years of implanting left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices in atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients, an interventional cardiologist with the University of Chicago Medical Center (UChicago Medicine) has developed a new device that could be a more affordable alternative to Boston Scientific’s Watchman and Abbott’s Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder.

Cardiologist develops new heart device that uses gel to reduce stroke risk in AFib patients

After years of implanting and studying LAAO devices, an interventional cardiologist with the University of Chicago has designed a new alternative that could reduce the risk of bleeding and save health systems money.

M&A mergers and acquisitions business deal

W. L. Gore & Associates to acquire medtech company behind foam-based LAAO system

Conformal Medical developed its CLAAS technology to help patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation reduce their risk of stroke without the use of anticoagulants. Back in August, the company raised $32 million to help ramp up research on the device.

Siemens Healthineers and Boston Scientific partner on next-generation intracardiac echo for LAAO

The agreement also will make Boston Scientific the exclusive distributor for the new ICE catheter optimized for left atrial appendage occlusion workflows.

Medtronic Penditure Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Exclusion System

Medtronic gains key approval for LAA exclusion device

The FDA-cleared device from Medtronic, which arrives pre-loaded on a single-use delivery system, is now set to launch in Europe.

The next generation Watchman device is designed to better seal off complex LAA anatomy to prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation patients. It uses an optimized architecture to fill gaps and adapt to the unique characteristics of each patient's appendage, which come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Next-generation Watchman enters trial in 2026 as LAAO volume grows

The next-generation Watchman device is designed to better seal off complex LAA anatomy in a variety of LAA shapes and sizes.