Patent ID: 7159592

Claim:
A method for transmyocardial coronary revascularization, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a bloodflow passageway that extends through myocardial tissue between a chamber of the heart and a coronary vein such that blood will flow from the chamber of the heart, through the bloodflow passageway and into the coronary vein; and b) causing the blood that flows from the chamber of the heart, through the bloodflow passageway and into the coronary vein to flow through the coronary vein in a direction opposite normal venous blood flow; and c) placing an intraluminal valving apparatus within the lumen of the coronary vein, said intraluminal valving apparatus having an opening through which blood emanating from the bloodflow passageway may flow and at least one occluder member that is alternately moveable between i) an open position whereby systolic blood is permitted to pass from the bloodflow passageway into the lumen of the coronary vein, and ii) a closed position whereby blood is prevented from backflowing from the lumen of the coronary vein into the bloodflow passageway.