SARASOTA, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2025) – Atrial fibrillation (AFib), is the most common treated heart arrhythmia, affecting over 6 million American adults. Sarasota Memorial’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute is participating in the CONFORM Pivotal trial, evaluating a new investigational device that offers patients with AFib an alternative to long-term medication use. The study will help determine if the device is safer and more effective than other commercially available devices for left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion or closure.
Led locally by cardiac electrophysiologist Robert Eckart, DO, the multi-center trial will evaluate the CLAAS® system—a permanent implant in the left atrial appendage designed to 
seal off the LAA, a small pouch in the heart where clots often form, and lower the risk of stroke without the need of blood thinners. The CLAAS® system is intended to simplify the procedure and enhance safety for patients by utilizing a foam-based implant designed to conform to each patient's unique anatomy.
The study sponsored by Conformal Medical Inc. is slated to enroll 1,600 patients at up to 100 sites in North America, Europe, and Central Asia. Eligible participants must be at least 18 or older with non-valvular AFib and currently taking blood thinners. They must be deemed appropriate by their doctors for left atrial appendage occlusion or closure.
For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact the research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com. For information about the national trial, visit: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05147792.
About the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
Located on the flagship Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota campus, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute serves as a premier hub for medical research and clinical innovation. With dedicated space for research, clinical innovation and graduate medical education, the Kolschowsky Institute provides a collaborative learning environment for physicians, nurses, researchers and students studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care. Through state-of-the-art simulation labs, hands-on training programs, and a robust portfolio of clinical studies, Sarasota Memorial and the Kolschowsky Institute play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare in the region. For more information, click here.