Patent ID: 6237607
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for forming a blood flow path from a heart chamber to a coronary vessel at an exterior surface of a heart wall, the method comprising:selecting a hollow conduit having a vessel portion and a myocardial portion, the vessel portion having an open leading end and the myocardial portion having an open leading end, the myocardium portion being sized to extend through a thickness of the heart wall;placing the myocardial portion in the heart wall with the open leading end of the myocardial portion protruding into the heart chamber while at least partially blocking flow of blood through the conduit from the heart chamber;connecting the leading end of the vessel portion to the coronary vessel;opening blood flow through the conduit from the heart chamber and into the vessel;wherein the placing of the myocardial portion includes:placing a myocardial sheath in the heart wall with the myocardial portion of said hollow conduit placed within the myocardial sheath and with the myocardial sheath and myocardial portion extending through the thickness of the heart wall; andremoving the myocardial sheath while leaving the myocardial portion of said hollow conduit within the heart wall.