Heart regurgitation method and apparatus

A regurgitation implant comprising:

• a shaft;
• at least one anchor coupled to an end region of said shaft;
• and
• at least one conduit coupled to said shaft configured to engage against at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve when said device is extended through said heart valve, so as to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through said heart valve when said heart valve is in a closed position, wherein said at least one conduit defines at least one passageway configured to extend through said heart valve and including a first open end configured to be disposed within a first heart chamber and a second open end configured to be disposed within a second heart chamber such that a controlled amount of regurgitation flows into said first open end, through said heart valve, and out said second open end when said heart valve is in said closed position.

A method of inducing regurgitation comprising:

• providing a regurgitation implant comprising at least one anchor portion and conduit coupled to a shaft;
• percutaneously inserting said regurgitation implant into a heart;
• and
• securing said regurgitation implant within said heart such that said at least one conduit extends through a heart valve between two heart chambers and engages against at least a portion of at least one cusp of said heart valve to define at least one passageway through said heart valve configured to induce a controlled amount of regurgitation through said heart valve in a closed position.