Recent advances in catheter devices for patent foramen ovale closure.

INTRODUCTION

Over the last 5 years, the armamentarium of the interventional cardiologist dealing with percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been enriched by some novel devices and further improvements of existing ones that have or promise to increase the safety and effective closure rate of PFO patients.

AREAS COVERED: This review presents and discusses recent advancements in device design and composition from both technical and clinical perspectives.

EXPERT OPINION: Device technology is continuously evolving. The recent modification of delivery system, device hooking, and composition, as well as the advent of new bioabsorbable materials, is promising to make percutaneous PFO closure devices safer. The search for more effectiveness with possibly less metal behind is still ongoing.