Cryoadhesive device for left atrial appendage occlusion

An epicardial method of stabilizing a left atrial appendage of a heart, the method comprising:

• positioning a stabilization element of a cryoadhesion device within a pericardial space proximate the left atrial appendage, the stabilization element being configured to cryoadhere to the left atrial appendage, the stabilization element including:
• an expandable element having:
• a planar first face with a continuous surface defining a plane;
• a planar second face opposite the planar first face and having a continuous surface defining a plane;
• and
• an edge between the planar first face and the planar second face, the planar first face lying in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and the planar second face lying in a third plane that is parallel to each of the first and second planes, the planar first face, the planar second face, and the edge defining an interior chamber;
• a fluid delivery element disposed in the interior chamber, the fluid delivery element having a distal end with a bend joint and a wall defining a plurality of apertures configured to deliver a fluid in the interior chamber and being transitionable between a loop-shaped first configuration and a linear second configuration;
• and
• a secondary device including a distal portion having a width that is greater than a widest portion of each of the planar first face and the planar second face such that the cryoadhesion device and stabilization element extend through the distal portion of the secondary device and the distal portion of the secondary device encircles and occludes at least a portion of the left atrial appendage when the stabilization element is cryoadhered to the left atrial appendage;
• and
• a source of cryogenic fluid in communication with the stabilization element
• cooling the stabilization element to a temperature that is sufficient to cause cryoadhesion between the stabilization element and the left atrial appendage;
• and
• occluding the left atrial appendage with the secondary device.

An epicardial method of stabilizing a left atrial appendage of a heart, the method comprising:

• positioning a stabilization element of a cryoadhesion device within the pericardial space through subxiphoid access, the stabilization element including:
• an expandable element having:
• a planar first face with a continuous surface defining a plane and having a first width;
• a planar second face opposite the planar first face, the planar second face having a continuous surface defining a plane and having the first width;
• an edge between the planar first face and the planar second face, the edge having a second width that is less than the first width, the planar first face, the planar second face, and the edge defining an interior chamber;
• a non-expandable thermally transmissive region;
• a thermoelectric cooling element in thermal communication with the non-expandable thermally transmissive region;
• and
• a fluid delivery element disposed in the interior chamber, the fluid delivery element having a distal end with a bend joint and a wall defining a plurality of apertures configured to deliver a fluid in the interior chamber and being transitionable between a loop-shaped first configuration and a linear second configuration, the fluid delivery element defining the planar first face and the planar second face when the fluid delivery element is in the first configuration;
• cooling the stabilization element to a temperature that is sufficient to cause cryoadhesion between the stabilization element and the left atrial appendage;
• and
• occluding the left atrial appendage with a secondary device.