Method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for performing a coronary artery bypass procedure for supplementing a flow of blood to a coronary artery, said method comprising: forming a blood flow path from a heart chamber directly to said coronary artery and maintaining said blood flow path open during both systole and diastole.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising selecting a blood conduit having a first end and a second end and placing said first end in blood flow communication with said chamber and placing said second end in blood flow communication with said coronary artery.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said conduit is selected with a cross-sectional area sufficient for blood to flow through said conduit at a volumetric flow rate to effectively reduce signs and symptoms of reduced coronary blood flow.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2  comprising: 
 a. inserting said first end into said chamber through a wall of said chamber and retaining said first end in said wall and in blood flow communication with said blood within said chamber; and  
 b. inserting said second end into said coronary artery and retaining said second end in said coronary artery and in blood flow communication with a lumen of said coronary artery.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said coronary artery is at least partially obstructed at a predetermined site, said method further comprising forming said path directly to said coronary artery downstream of said site.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising reducing but not blocking blood flow through said path during diastole.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising directing blood flow through said path to reduce direct impingement of said blood flow upon a wall of the coronary artery.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising forming said path through said wall and through a lower wall of said artery.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for use in a coronary artery bypass procedure for supplementing a flow of blood to a coronary artery, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a blood flow conduit having a first end adapted to be inserted into and retained within a wall of a heart chamber containing oxygenated blood with said first end in blood flow communication with blood contained within said chamber;    b. said conduit having a second end adapted to be inserted into and retained within said coronary artery with said second end in blood flow communication with a lumen of said coronary artery; and    C. said conduit adapted to define an open blood flow path during both diastole and systole.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said conduit has a cross-sectional area sufficient to pass blood at a volumetric flow rate to supply blood to cardiac musculature served by said coronary artery in an amount to reduce signs and symptoms of reduced coronary blood flow.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said conduit has a geometry selected to bias forward flow of blood from said first end toward said second end while not blocking blood flow from a direction from said second end toward said first end.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said second end is sized to be inserted into and retained within said coronary artery on a downstream side of a predetermined obstruction site.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  comprising a deflection surface for blocking blood flow through said conduit from impinging directly upon said coronary artery.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said conduit is sized to extend through said heart chamber wall and a lower wall of said coronary artery.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said conduit is biased for a net volumetric blood flow from said first end toward said second end.