ABSTRACT
Introduction Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has been successfully performed for many years with a low complication and recurrence rate using different devices. Many of these devices were adaptations from devices designed to close atrial septal defects (ASDs). The right and left anchor arms are rigidly connected to each other at a fixed distance. The devices also tend to be larger. Unlike an ASD, which is a hole in the interatrial septum, a PFO has a variable length tunnel that can vary from 2 mm to several millimeters. The openings of the right and left PFO can also be offset from each other. Therefore the current devices with the rigid fixed distance between the right and left anchor arms may distort the septal anatomy and, in some instances, may even cause the PFO to remain open the whole time.
