Apparatus and methods for delivering devices for reducing left atrial pressure

A method of implanting an atrial shunt having first and second flared end regions within a subject with heart pathology, the subject having a heart with an atrial septum having a fossa ovalis therein, the method comprising:

• collapsing the atrial shunt to a contracted delivery state;
• coupling the first flared end region of the collapsed atrial shunt to a distal end of a delivery apparatus;
• advancing the collapsed atrial shunt and the delivery apparatus through a sheath positioned across a puncture through the fossa ovalis, the collapsed atrial shunt and the delivery apparatus configured to move longitudinally forward and longitudinally backward through the sheath;
• positioning the collapsed atrial shunt across the puncture through the fossa ovalis at a non-perpendicular angle between a center axis of the delivery apparatus and an outer wall of the atrial septum;
• advancing the collapsed atrial shunt and the delivery apparatus relative to the sheath until the second flared end region of the atrial shunt protrudes beyond the sheath and transitions from the contracted delivery state to an expanded state within a left atrium;
• retracting the sheath to engage the second flared end region of the atrial shunt with the atrial septum at the non-perpendicular angle;
• and
• deploying the atrial shunt at the atrial septum at the non-perpendicular angle such that the atrial shunt aligns itself within the puncture whereby a neck region of the atrial shunt is positioned in the puncture, the first flared end region of the atrial shunt is disposed in a right atrium in an expanded state, and the second flared end region is disposed in the left atrium in the expanded state.