Patent ID: 7087034

Claim:
A vascular shunt apparatus comprising: an elongate tubular member having first and second end portions spaced apart by a length of an intermediate portion, an aperture extending axially through the tubular member between the first and second portions; the first end portion being adapted to form a first sealing connection with a fluid carrying system at a first location, the second end portion being adapted to form a second sealing connection with the fluid carrying system at a second location spaced apart from the first location to facilitate fluid flow through the aperture of the tubular member between the first and second locations; a single piezo-electric crystal connected with the tubular member for monitoring the fluid flow through the tubular member, the single piezo-electric crystal being configured provide an electrical signal in response to flow of fluid through the tubular member; and an electrical circuit electrically connected with the single piezoelectric crystal, the electrical circuit being configured to convert the electrical signal provided by the single piezo-electric crystal to an audible sound corresponding to the flow of fluid through the tubular member.