Patent ID: 8512360

Claim:
A device for placing a target vessel of a patient's vascular system in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood by forming a blood flow path between the target vessel and the heart chamber, the device comprising: a conduit having first and second portions each of which has an axis, the axes of the first and second conduit portions being transverse to each other; wherein the first conduit portion has a free end and is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, and the second conduit portion has two free ends that are sized and configured to be positioned at least partially within the lumen of a target vessel in the patient's vascular system; wherein a diameter of the first conduit portion is greater than a diameter of the second conduit portion, and a channel defined by the first conduit portion is fluidly connected to a channel defined by the second conduit portion; wherein the conduit is formed at least in part of a molded thermoset material having a predetermined amount of flexibility to permit the second portion of the conduit to be flexed for placement within the lumen of a target vessel; wherein the first conduit portion includes a member configured to be placed in myocardial tissue without collapsing during myocardial contraction; wherein the conduit is generally T-shaped and the first conduit portion corresponds to one leg of the T having one free end while the second conduit portion corresponds to another leg of the T having two free ends, and wherein the two free ends of the other leg of the T define first and second outlets adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the lumen of the target vessel; and wherein the second conduit portion conduit is configured such that the outlets may be disposed and secured within the lumen of the target vessel without the second conduit portion contacting the entire circumference of the inner vessel wall.