Abstract: A device for treating a heart condition in a patient. The device has a body adapted and configured to self-expand from a radially collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. In its expanded configuration, the device has a first section at a first end, a second section at a second end and a central portion extending between the first and second sections, the first and second sections each having diameters that increase with distance from the central portion toward the first and second ends, respectively. The body is configured to be delivered percutaneously to a patient's heart and allowed to self-expand in an opening in a septum of the heart to dispose the first end in the left atrium, the second end in the right atrium and the central portion in the opening to permit blood to flow through the body from the left atrium to the right atrium.

Abstract: A device (10) for treating heart failure in a patient. The device (10) comprising a body (12), at least one passage (18) through the body (12), at least one one way valve (20) in the passage (18) and a mounting means (14) adapted for mounting the body (12) in an opening provided in the patient's atrial septum. In use, the device (10) is oriented such that, when the patient's left atrial pressure exceeds the patient's right atrial pressure by a predetermined amount, the one way valve(s) (20) opens to allow blood flow through the passage(s) from the left atrium to the right atrium to thereby reduce the left atrial pressure.