Glossary of Terms

AMPLATZER PFO Occluder
A self-expanding device consisting of two wire-mesh discs, filled with polyester fabric, that closes the patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Catheter
A hollow tube that is used to navigate through veins or arteries, usually from the groin, to provide access to the heart without open-heart surgery.

Migraine
A headache that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. These throbbing or pulsating headaches often are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some migraines are preceded or accompanied by "auras" - such as visual flashes of light, or tingling in an arm or leg.

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
An opening between the upper chambers of the heart (atria) that normally closes after birth. This opening allows some blood to bypass the filtering system of the lungs. As a result, unfiltered, deoxygenated blood may be pumped throughout the body and brain.

Percutaneous
Through the skin and, in this case, using a catheter.

Randomized
A system by which the outcome of a decision will not be predictable beforehand. In the case of the PREMIUM Trial, the treatment you receive is determined by chance (like a flip of a coin).