Abstract: A method for revascularizing a coronary vessel with a conduit through the heart wall having a diameter transition in the myocardial leg, wherein blood flow is in the direction of transition from larger to smaller diameter. A method for revascularizing a coronary vessel using an implant with a myocardial leg having a maximum cross-sectional area proximate a first end, and inserting the first end through the myocardium into a heart chamber so that the implant directs blood flow into the coronary vessel. A transmyocardial implant with a myocardial leg including point of minimum diameter and a first end with a larger diameter, and a vessel leg in fluid communication with the myocardial leg.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant establishes a blood flow path through a myocardium between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel residing on an exterior of the heart. The implant includes a coronary portion sized to be received within the vessel. A myocardial portion is sized to pass through the myocardium into the heart chamber. A transition portion connects the coronary and myocardial portions for directing blood flow from the myocardial portion to the coronary portion. The coronary portion and the myocardial portion have an open construction for permitting tissue growth across a wall thickness of the coronary portion and the myocardial portion. The myocardial portion includes an agent for controlling a coagulation cascade and platelet formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmyocardial implant placement device with an introducer, a transmyocardial implant mounted about the introducer, a wound closure clip engaged to the introducer adjacent the transmyocardial implant. The introducer is adapted to be inserted through a lumen of a coronary vessel and a myocardium of a patient into a chamber of the patient's heart and form a blood flow pathway through the myocardium between the heart chamber and the coronary vessel. When the introducer is inserted, the wound closure clip engages an outer wall of the coronary vessel and the transmyocardial implant extends from the heart chamber to the lumen of the coronary vessel. The transmyocardial implant is expanded in the blood flow pathway and the introducer retracted, leaving the transmyocardial implant in the within the blood flow pathway.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant delivery system is disclosed for establishing a blood flow path through a myocardium between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel residing on an exterior of the heart. The transmyocardial implant delivery assembly includes as conduit for defining a blood flow path, a temporary sheath, and a tool holding a second end of the conduit. The conduit includes a rigid portion adapted to be inserted into and retained within the heart wall of a heart chamber. The rigid conduit is sufficiently rigid to withstand collapsing in response to contraction forces of the heart wall. The conduit also includes a synthetic flexible portion that is in fluid communication with the rigid portion. An end of the flexible portion corresponding to the second end of the conduit is sized to be received in a lumen of a coronary vessel. The transmyocardial implant delivery system is inserted through the heart wall.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant includes a hollow rigid conduit having a vessel portion and a myocardial portion. The vessel portion is sized to be inserted into a blood vessel segment taken from a non-coronary artery or vein. The myocardial portion is sized to extend from the vessel portion and through a myocardium into a heart chamber. The conduit has open vessel and myocardial ends on respective ends of the vessel and myocardial portions to define a blood flow pathway within an interior of the conduit between the vessel and myocardial ends. The myocardial portion is formed of a conduit material sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and closure of the pathway in response to contraction of the myocardium. The vessel portion has a radial compliance approximating a radial compliance of the vessel.

Abstract: An attachment member for securing a graft material to a vessel includes a conduit portion for attachment to the graft material. The attachment member has first and second anchor wings formed on opposite sides of an end of the conduit portion. The anchor wings are biased to extend substantially perpendicular to an axis of the conduit portion. The first and second anchor wings have arcuate shapes around substantially collinear axes for the anchor wings to define a flow path within a vessel on opposite sides of the conduit portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant establishes a blood flow path through a heart wall between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel on the heart wall. The implant includes a hollow conduit having an open first end and an open second end. The conduit is dimensioned so as to extend at least from the vessel through said heart wall and into said chamber. The conduit has a conduit wall defining a blood flow pathway within an interior of said conduit between the first and second ends. The first and second ends are mutually positioned for the first end to reside within the vessel and opposing a wall of the vessel when the conduit is placed within the heart wall with the second end protruding into the chamber. The conduit wall is formed of a material sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and closure of the pathway in response to contraction of the heart wall. A flow restriction is formed in the pathway for reducing a discharge velocity of blood flow discharged from the first end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An insertion tool facilitates insertion of a vessel end of a transmyocardial implant into a coronary vessel. The insertion tool has a hollow sheath and mating dilator. The sheath has an external dimension sized for the sheath to be received within a lumen of an expanded size of the coronary vessel. A tapered portion extends from the dilator coaxially with an axis of the sheath. The tapered portion narrows from a cylindrical body portion to a leading tip of the tapered portion. The leading tip of the tapered portion is sized to be received within the lumen of a constricted size of the coronary vessel. The tapered portion and body portion are retractable from the sheath. After such retraction, the leading end of the implant is placed within the sheath. The sheath is split at a part-line such that the sheath can be pulled rearwardly from the vessel without disrupting the coronary vessel following placement of the implant within the sheath.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant establishes a blood flow path through a myocardium between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel residing on an exterior of the heart. The implant includes a coronary portion sized to be received within the vessel. A myocardial portion is sized to pass through the myocardium into the heart chamber. A transition portion connects the coronary and myocardial portions for directing blood flow from the myocardial portion to the coronary portion. The coronary portion and the myocardial portion have an open construction for permitting tissue growth across a wall thickness of the coronary portion and the myocardial portion. The myocardial portion includes an agent for controlling a coagulation cascade and platelet formation.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant establishes a blood flow path through a heart wall between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel on the heart wall. The implant includes a hollow conduit having an open first end and an open second end. The conduit is dimensioned so as to extend at least from the vessel through said heart wall and into said chamber. The conduit has a conduit wall defining a blood flow pathway within an interior of said conduit between the first and second ends. The first and second ends are mutually positioned for the first end to reside within the vessel and opposing a wall of the vessel when the conduit is placed within the heart wall with the second end protruding into the chamber. The conduit wall is formed of a material sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and closure of the pathway in response to contraction of the heart wall. A flow restriction is formed in the pathway for reducing a discharge velocity of blood flow discharged from the first end.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant includes a hollow rigid conduit having a vessel portion and a myocardial portion. The vessel portion is sized to be inserted into a coronary vessel. The myocardial portion is sized to extend from the vessel portion and through a myocardium into a heart chamber. The conduit has open vessel and myocardial ends on respective ones of the vessel and myocardial portions to define a blood flow pathway within an interior of the conduit between the vessel and myocardial ends. The myocardial portion is formed of a conduit material sufficiently rigid to resist deformation and closure of the pathway in response to contraction of the myocardium. The vessel portion has a radial compliance approximating a radial compliance of the vessel.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant establishes a blood flow path through a myocardium between a heart chamber and a lumen of a coronary vessel residing on an exterior of the heart. The implant includes a coronary portion sized to be received within the vessel. A myocardial portion is sized to pass through the myocardium into the heart chamber. A transition portion connects the coronary and myocardial portions for directing blood flow from the myocardial portion to the coronary portion. The coronary portion and the myocardial portion have an open construction for permitting tissue growth across a wall thickness of the coronary portion and the myocardial portion. The myocardial portion includes an agent for controlling a coagulation cascade and platelet formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A method for revascularizing a coronary vessel with a conduit through the heart wall having a diameter transition in the myocardial leg, wherein blood flow is in the direction of transition from larger to smaller diameter. A method for revascularizing a coronary vessel using an implant with a myocardial leg having a maximum cross-sectional area proximate a first end, and inserting the first end through the myocardium into a heart chamber so that the implant directs blood flow into the coronary vessel. A transmyocardial implant with a myocardial leg including point of minimum diameter and a first end with a larger diameter, and a vessel leg in fluid communication with the myocardial leg.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.