Patent ID: 7347867
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A device for placing a conduit in fluid communication with a target vessel within a patient's body, the device comprising: a support member having a length, a proximal end and a distal end, said support member having a sharpened tip for forming an opening in a heart wall; a conduit supported on said support member and having a first end, a second end and a lumen, wherein the conduit is movable between deployed and non-deployed positions and one end of the conduit is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a lumen of a target vessel; a retention member connected to said support member and overlying at least a portion of the conduit, wherein said portion of the conduit is held in the non-deployed position by the retention member; and an actuator coupled to the retention member for moving the retention member in a first direction with respect to the conduit to allow said portion of the conduit to move to the deployed position; wherein the actuator is moved in the first direction to move the retention member and deploy the conduit and the actuator is moved in a second direction to remove the retention member from the target vessel and the patient's body, the second direction being different than the first direction, wherein at least a portion of the conduit has substantially the same configuration in both the deployed and non-deployed positions.