Apparatus, systems, and methods to improve atrial fibrillation outcomes involving the left atrial appendage

An implantable device for monitoring and occlusion of a left atrial appendage extending from a left atrium of a heart, the device comprising:

• a chain of subunits coupled to one another in series by connectors, each connector configured to permit a subunit coupled thereto to change orientation relative to an adjacent subunit;
• a power source configured to provide electrical energy to the device;
• a processor coupled to the power source and carried by one or more of the subunits;
• at least one sensor coupled to the processor and configured to generate a sensor signal correlated with a physiological parameter of the patient;
• a communication module coupled to the processor and configured to transmit information from the device to a location outside of a patient;
• and
• a cover portion coupled proximal to the chain of subunits and configured, upon deployment, to span an ostium of the left atrial appendage to inhibit thrombus within the left atrial appendage from embolizing into the left atrium;
• wherein the cover portion is configured to be deployed across the ostium of the left atrial appendage after the chain of subunits is advanced into the left atrial appendage;
• and
• wherein the processor is configured to process the sensor signal to generate information indicative of at least one of a left atrial pressure of the patient or a heart failure admission of the patient, and to provide the information to the communication module for transmission outside of the patient.