Patent ID: 8235885

Claim:
A method for percutaneously connecting a ventricular assist device to a heart, the method comprising: accessing one of a right atrium and a right ventricle of the heart with a catheter through an inferior vena cava; puncturing a septum of the heart to access oxygenated blood in one of a left atrium and a left ventricle of the heart; implanting an anastomosis device having a tubular structure in the septum; withdrawing the catheter from the heart and leaving a filament fixedly attached to the implanted anastomosis device; guiding a snare device through the superior vena cava; snaring the fixed filament with the snare device and pulling the filament back through superior vena cava; guiding a conduit to the implanted anastomosis device through use of the fixed filament; coupling the conduit to the implanted tubular structure of the anastomosis device; flowing oxygenated blood from one of the left atrium and the left ventricle through the conduit; and returning the oxygenated blood from the conduit to an artery.