Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for delivering a conduit between a chamber of a heart and a blood vessel adjacent the chamber, the method comprising: providing a conduit having a first end and a second end; advancing the conduit through a patient's vascular system to the heart; placing the first end of the conduit through a passageway formed in a myocardial wall surrounding the heart chamber; and placing the second end of the conduit in the blood vessel, wherein the blood vessel joins the passageway generally at an angle, and the conduit bends between the first end and the second end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for delivering a conduit between a chamber of a heart and a blood vessel adjacent the chamber, the method comprising: providing a conduit having a first end and a second end; advancing the conduit through a patient's vascular system to the heart; placing the first end of the conduit through a passageway formed in a myocardial wall surrounding the heart chamber; and placing the second end of the conduit in the blood vessel, wherein the blood vessel joins the passageway generally at an angle, and the conduit bends between the first end and the second end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the second end in the blood vessel includes placing the second end in a portion of the blood vessel downstream from the passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is a coronary artery and the heart chamber is a left ventricle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a delivery catheter, wherein advancing the conduit through the vascular system includes advancing the conduit via the delivery catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the passageway in the myocardial wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is made of semi-rigid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a unitary construction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is made of a plurality of sections joined together prior to the advancing of the conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the conduit includes advancing the conduit in a folded configuration to the heart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the conduit includes advancing the conduit in a substantially straight configuration to the heart.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the conduit includes advancing the conduit in a collapsed configuration to the heart and wherein placing the first end and the second end includes expanding the conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is made of a shape memory material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the conduit includes advancing the conduit through the blood vessel to the heart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 , the blood vessel is a coronary artery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit defines a first opening in the first end and a second opening in the second end, and wherein placing the first end includes placing the first opening in flow communication with the heart chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the heart chamber is a left ventricle and the blood vessel is a coronary artery.