Conduits for use in placing a target vessel in fluid communication with source of blood

A method for delivering blood from a heart chamber containing blood to a target vessel of a patient's vascular system, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) placing a conduit having a lumen in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood;
• (b) placing the conduit in fluid communication with the lumen of a target vessel and securing the conduit to the target vessel;
• (c) delivering blood from the heart chamber into the conduit during at least one phase of the heart cycle;
• and
• (d) permitting blood to flow out of the conduit unrestricted in more than one direction in the lumen of the target vessel.

A method for placing a target vessel of a patient's coronary vascular system in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a conduit including first and second portions that are disposed transverse to each other and have lumens in fluid communication, the first conduit portion including at least one inlet and the second conduit portion including at least one outlet;
• (b) placing the inlet of the first conduit portion in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood to allow blood to enter the lumen of the first conduit portion;
• (c) positioning the outlet of the second conduit portion in fluid communication with the lumen of a target vessel at a selected location in the target vessel to allow blood to flow into the lumen of the target vessel from the second conduit portion;
• and
• (d) securing the second conduit portion to the target vessel at the selected location while substantially not moving the second conduit portion along a longitudinal axis of the target vessel.

A method for deploying a conduit to deliver blood from a heart chamber to a target vessel of a patient's coronary vascular system, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a conduit including first and second portions each of which has a lumen, wherein the first and second conduit portions are disposed transverse to each other with the lumens in fluid communication and the second conduit portion is at least partially collapsible;
• (b) placing the lumen of the first conduit portion in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood;
• (c) at least partially collapsing the second conduit portion and positioning the second conduit portion at least partially within the lumen of a target vessel at a selected location in the target vessel;
• and
• (d) expanding the second conduit portion within the lumen of the target vessel at the selected location to secure the second conduit portion to the target vessel in fluid communication therewith.

A method for delivering blood from a heart chamber containing blood to a target vessel of a patient's vascular system by placing conduit in the myocardium, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) determining a thickness of the patient's myocardium adjacent a heart chamber containing blood;
• (b) placing a conduit having a lumen in the myocardium with the lumen of the conduit in fluid communication with the heart chamber containing blood;
• (c) placing the conduit in fluid communication with the lumen of a target vessel and securing the conduit to the target vessel;
• and
• (d) delivering blood from the heart chamber into the conduit and allowing blood to exit the conduit and enter the target vessel in more than one direction.

A device for placing a target vessel of a patient's vascular system in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, the device comprising:

• a conduit including first and second portions, wherein the first and second conduit portions each have an axis and a lumen through which blood may flow, the axes of the first and second conduit portions being transverse to each other;
• wherein the first conduit portion is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood and includes at least one inlet configured to be at least partially positioned in myocardial tissue without collapsing during myocardial contraction;
• wherein the second conduit portion is configured to be at least partially positioned within the target vessel and includes at least one outlet adapted to deliver blood to the lumen of the target vessel;
• and
• wherein the inlet of the first conduit portion is more rigid than the outlet of the second conduit portion.

A device for placing a target vessel of a patient's vascular system in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, the device comprising:

• a conduit having first and second portions each having a lumen, wherein the first and second conduit portions are disposed transverse to each other with the lumens in fluid communication;
• wherein the first conduit portion has a longitudinal axis and is sized and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood;
• wherein the second conduit portion has a longitudinal axis and is sized and configured to be placed at least partially within a target vessel in a patient's vascular system to deliver blood to the target vessel, the second conduit portion including first and second ends adapted to be positioned in the target vessel;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal axis of the first conduit portion crosses the longitudinal axis of the second conduit portion at a location that is spaced different distances from the first and second ends of the second conduit portion.

A device for placing a target vessel of a patient's vascular system in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood by forming a blood flow path between the target vessel and the heart chamber, the device comprising:

• a conduit having first and second portions each of which has an axis, the axes of the first and second conduit portions being transverse to each other;
• wherein the first conduit portion has a free end and is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, and the second conduit portion has two free ends that are sized and configured to be positioned at least partially within the lumen of a target vessel in the patient's vascular system;
• and
• wherein the conduit is formed at least in part of a molded thermoset material having a predetermined amount of flexibility to permit the second portion of the conduit to be flexed for placement within the lumen of a target vessel.

A device for delivering a conduit configured to be placed in fluid communication with a target vessel and a source of blood, the device comprising:

• a support shaft having a length;
• a sheath having a length, a lumen, and a wall with at least one opening extending into the lumen;
• wherein the support shaft is sized and configured to be at least partially positioned in the sheath lumen so as to contact the sheath wall and substantially block the opening by preventing communication with the sheath lumen via the opening;
• and
• wherein the support shaft is movable within the sheath lumen to selectively block or unblock the opening in the sheath wall.

In combination with a conduit for use in placing a target vessel in fluid communication with a source of blood, a delivery device for deploying the conduit, the combination comprising:

• a conduit including first and second portions, wherein the first and second conduit portions each have an axis and a lumen through which blood may flow, the axes of the first and second conduit portions being transverse to each other;
• wherein the first conduit portion includes at least one inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heart chamber containing blood, and the second conduit portion includes at least one outlet configured to be at least partially positioned within the lumen of a target vessel to deliver blood to the target vessel;
• a delivery device including a shaft with a lumen and at least one opening extending into the lumen, wherein the second conduit portion is mounted on the shaft;
• wherein the shaft opening is movable into and out of alignment with the lumen of the first conduit portion;
• and
• wherein the shaft opening is moved into alignment with the lumen of the first conduit portion to deliver blood from the first conduit portion to the shaft lumen.