title: Optimal septum alignment of the Figulla Flex occluder to the atrial septum in patients with secundum atrial septal defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the implantation safety, anatomic performance and septal alignment of the Occlutech Figulla Flex occluder (FFO) device, an atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device with specific left-sided deployment characteristics and right-sided septal alignment properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 2011 and December 2013 we prospectively collected the change of orientation of the device to the septum during the release process and the feasibility of implantation of the FFO in 122 patients. The mean age was 10.7 years (±10.2), weight 32.9 kg (±20.3), and height 129.4 cm (±30). Devices used were 9 (n=13), 10.5 (n=16), 12 (n=16), 15 (n=39), 18 (n=17), 21 (n=8), 24 (n=5), 27 (n=7) and 30 mm (n=3) in size. No additional implantation techniques were required. Before release, the mean angles of the left and right-sided discs were 29.2° (±9.9°) and 43.4° (±9.2°) to the body axis, and 18.7° (±8.7°) and 27.0° (±10°) immediately thereafter. Thus, there was only a slight change in orientation of the left-sided (10.6°±7.5°) and right-sided (16.3°±7.9°) discs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The design of this occluder system results in an ideal septum alignment which increases its feasibility as well as patient safety during implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department for Congenital Heart Defects, Heart and Diabetes Centre NRW, Ruhr University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Christoph M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Happel
authors.forename: Dagmar B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Soetemann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanslik
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moysich
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kececioglu
authors.forename: Kai Thorsten
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Laser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054087:Atrial Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D055989:Septal Occluder Device; D016896:Treatment Outcome