Patent ID: 8091556
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of reducing left atrial pressure in a human with congestive heart failure, the method comprising: providing a shunt configured for percutaneous placement across an atrial septum of the human with congestive heart failure, the shunt having first and second self-expanding end regions configured to retain the shunt within the atrial septum, the shunt including a valve configured to open to permit blood to flow from a left atrium to a right atrium only when the left atrial pressure exceeds a pressure in the right atrium; implanting the shunt transeptally between the left atrium and the right atrium of the heart of the human, such that the first end region communicates with the left atrium and the second end region communicates with the right atrium; and reducing the left atrial pressure by transferring blood from the left atrium to the right atrium through the shunt responsive to a predetermined differential atrial pressure.