Apparatus for providing coronary retroperfusion and methods of use

An apparatus that is implanted within the chest of a human subject to provide retrograde transvenous myocardial perfusion, the apparatus comprising:

• an inlet conduit having an inlet end, an outlet end and a lumen extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end of said inlet conduit being inserted into the aorta or left heart of the subject with the remainder of the inlet conduit extending partially around the subject's heart within the subject's chest cavity such that oxygenated blood enters the inlet end of the inlet conduit and travels through the entire length of the inlet conduit without passing outside of the subject's body;
• an outlet conduit having an inlet end, an outlet end and a lumen extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the outlet end of the outlet conduit being inserted into the coronary venous circulation of the subject's heart with the remainder of the inlet conduit extending partially around the subject's heart within the subject's chest cavity;
• a coupler positioned within the subject's chest cavity and coupling the outlet end of the inlet conduit to the inlet end of the outlet conduit so that oxygenated blood flows from the outlet end of the inlet conduit, through the coupler, through the entire length of the outlet conduit and into the coronary venous circulation of the subject's heart without passing outside of the subject's body.