LAA closure

Append Medical is to present a novel left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device—designed to minimise stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation patients—at the ICI Innovation Award Competition, which takes place at the 2019 Innovation in Cardiovascular Interventions (ICI) (8–10 December, Tel Aviv, Israel). A press release reports that the company was selected from among hundreds of startups as a finalist for competition. According to the press release, Append Medical will also present in the Digital Presentations: Complex Coronary and Valvular Interventions programme during the meeting.

Originally conceived by Leonid Sternik (Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel), the Append Medical Appligator device is designed to reduce stroke risk in atrial fibrillation patients by completely closing the LAA to prevent blood clots moving from the LAA. Its design is intended to minimise device-related thromboembolism risk by leaving only a suture—and no metal—at the closure site.

The press release states that the LAA closure market is the second-fastest growing segment of the medical device market, and that the market is estimated to reach $958 million by 2025 (according to Energias Market Research).

Append Medical operates as part of MEDX Xelerator in Israel. MEDX Xelerator’s partners include MEDX Ventures, Boston Scientific, Intellectual Ventures and Sheba Medical Center.