Abstract: A medical implant comprises a hollow conduit having a first end opening, a second end opening, and a slit opening located between said first and second end openings, and a one way valve located within said conduit.

Abstract: A conduit protector for temporarily minimizing the surface friction on an outside surface of an implant includes a curvilinear sheet formed into a generally cylindrical shape having a first axial edge and a second axial edge, a connecting member coupling the first axial edge of the curvilinear sheet to the second axial edge of the curvilinear sheet, and a release member structured for separating the first axial edge of the curvilinear sheet from the second axial edge of the curvilinear sheet. An inside surface of the curvilinear sheet may have an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the outside surface of the implant.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved cutting tool to reliably and safely cut a circular hole through the wall of a body vessel. Unlike prior art, the vessel cutting tool can measure the thickness of the vessel wall before cutting the hole, measure the depth of tool penetration during cutting, and control the rate of rotational cutting relative to the rate of axial movement. Also, the invention provides other benefits not previously offered by prior art inventions. For instance, in one embodiment of the invention an electric motor is used to cut the hole. In another embodiment, the anchor element forms an immediate low profile device within the vessel and by acting as a protective separator, the anchor prevents unwanted vessel tissue from inadvertently being cut by the rotating cutter. In yet another embodiment, an adhesive is used in place of the anchor element to provide an adhesive bond to secure the cutting tool to the vessel.