Left ventricular conduits and methods for delivery

A method of delivering a conduit into a heart wall between a heart chamber and an adjacent blood vessel, comprising:

• inserting a hollow needle through an anterior wall and a posterior wall of the blood vessel through the heart wall and into the heart chamber;
• inserting a guidewire through the hollow needle into the heart chamber;
• removing the hollow needle;
• inserting a dilator over the guidewire into the heart wall;
• removing the guidewire;
• and
• placing a conduit over the dilator into the heart wall.

A device for measuring a depth of insertion into a heart, comprising:

• an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough;
• an access port near the proximal end of the elongate tubular body;
• an opening near the distal end in flow communication with the access port;
• and
• at least one depth indication mechanism visible from the outside of the tubular body for indicating depth of travel of the device,
• wherein the device is configured so that when the device is inserted into the heart and reaches a blood-containing portion of the heart, blood flows through the access port and the depth indication mechanism indicates how far the distal end has traveled.

A method of providing direct blood flow between a heart chamber and a coronary vessel, the method comprising:

• placing a guide device through an anterior wall and a posterior wall of the coronary vessel and through a heart wall between the heart chamber and the coronary vessel;
• forming a passageway in the heart wall at a location defined by the guide device;
• and
• placing a conduit within the passageway.

A device for measuring the depth of penetration from an anterior wall of a coronary vessel to a heart chamber, comprising:

• a hollow member defining a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end, the hollow member being configured to be inserted into the coronary artery and the heart wall;
• a depth indication mechanism on the hollow member;
• and
• a portion of the member in flow communication with the lumen of the member so that blood from the heart chamber entering the lumen can be observed.

A method for inserting a conduit into a heart wall between a heart chamber and the coronary artery, comprising:

• screwing a stylet having a threaded tip and a nonthreaded body portion into the heart wall;
• screwing an outer sleeve having a threaded exterior over the nonthreaded body portion of the stylet;
• removing the stylet;
• and
• inserting the conduit into the heart wall through the outer sleeve.

A method for advancing a device into the heart wall of a patient through a coronary artery, comprising:

• screwing a threaded device into the coronary artery to open the artery;
• pulling back on the artery;
• and
• screwing the threaded device into the heart wall.

A method of delivering a conduit into a heart wall between a heart chamber and an adjacent blood vessel, comprising:

• inserting a hollow needle into the heart wall through the blood vessel into the heart chamber;
• inserting a guidewire through the hollow needle into the heart chamber;
• removing the hollow needle;
• inserting a dilator over the guidewire into the heart wall;
• removing the guidewire;
• and
• screwing a threaded conduit over the dilator into the heart wall.