Patent ID: 6969379

Claim:
A method for providing circulatory support, comprising: withdrawing blood from a first predetermined location in a circulatory system of a patient; and returning the withdrawn blood to a second predetermined location in the circulatory system of the patient, wherein the steps of withdrawing and returning are performed by providing a cannula assembly comprising a first cannula defining a first flow path for transporting blood between a pump and a first predetermined location within the circulatory system of a patient; and a second cannula sized and configured to slidably receive and guide at least a portion of the first cannula in a non-linear direction to extend at least a portion of the first cannula a desired length beyond the second cannula and permitting adjustment of the length the first cannula extends beyond the second cannula, the first and second cannulas forming, between them, sized and configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the first cannula to form a lumen between the first and second cannulas, the lumen defining a second flow path for transporting blood between a pump and a second predetermined location within the circulatory system of the patient, wherein the first and second cannulas are dimensioned to extend, in use, into the respective first and second predetermined locations through a single incision formed in a vascular system of patient.