Boston Scientific: Watchman FLX LAAC
Boston Scientific designed its Watchman FLX left atrial appendage closure device to occlude the left atrial appendage of the heart, reducing the risk of blood-clotting and stroke in high-risk patients.
Health providers can easily implant the Watchman FLX and recapture and re-position it during the implantation procedure, according to the company. It comes in 20 mm, 24 mm, 27 mm, 31 mm, 35 mm sizes and can treat ostia from 14 mm to 31.5 mm. The closure device is preloaded into the delivery catheter to reduce preparation time.
Boston Scientific made the Watchman FLX with a nitinol frame with polyethylene terephthalate. It has a distal fluoroscopic marker.
It has fully launched in Europe. Boston Sci said it expects to receive FDA approval in 2020.
Update: Watchman FLX gained FDA approval in July 2020.