Abbott Laboratories announced late-breaking data from the Amulet™ LAA Occluder IDE trial, a multi-center, head-to-head study comparing the company's Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder with the Watchman‡ device (Boston Scientific) to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) at an increased risk of stroke. The results of the trial show Abbott's Amulet device was superior for the primary endpoint of LAA closure and noninferior for the primary endpoints of safety and effectiveness versus the comparator device. The LAA is a small pouch connected to the upper left chamber of the heart. For people with AFib, the heart's ability to effectively pump blood can be disrupted, allowing blood to pool and collect in the LAA causing an increased risk for clotting. If clots reach the blood stream, they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Abbott's Amulet device with Dual-Seal technology (a lobe to fill the body of the LAA and a disc to close off the opening into the LAA) offers immediate closure of the LAA, reducing the risk of stroke and " unlike the study comparator device " immediately eliminates the need for blood-thinning medication following implant. Amulet Occluder also offers a wider range of sizes to help physicians treat a broad range of patients and allows recapturing and repositioning to ensure optimal placement.