Designs for left ventricular conduit

Abstract

A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A tissue implant device for implantation into ischemic tissue comprising: 
 an implant having a first configuration with a first profile and a second configuration having a second profile that is greater than the first profile whereby surrounding tissue into which the implant is placed in stress and is irritated sufficiently to cause an injury response including thrombosis formation that initiates angiogenesis;    the implant comprising a plurality of expandable members each having a free end and an end joined to the implant, each member configured to diverge away from a substantially common central longitudinal axis of the implant during self-expansion from the first configuration to the second configuration.    
   
   
       15 . An implant as defined in  claim 14  further comprising a flare that is resiliently expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration.  
   
   
       16 . An implant device as defined in  claim 14  wherein the implant defines a hollow interior.  
   
   
       17 . An implant device as defined in  claim 14  wherein the implant is flexible after assuming the second configuration.  
   
   
       18 . An implant device as defined in  claim 14  wherein the implant defines a trunk portion aligned along the longitudinal axis of the implant and defining expandable members that are legs extending from the trunk portion and that diverge away from the longitudinal axis upon expansion.  
   
   
       19 . An implant device as defined in  claim 14  wherein a first portion of the body aligned along the longitudinal axis of the implant remains static during and after delivery and a second portion of the body is defined by expandable members that move to a different position relative to the first portion after implantation to comprise a second configuration of the device.  
   
   
       20 . An implant device as defined in  claim 19  wherein the implant comprises an elastic material and the motivational energy to cause the implant to move from the first to the second configuration is the inherent resiliency of the material.  
   
   
       21 . A tissue implant device for implantation into ischemic tissue comprising: 
 an implant having a first configuration with a first profile and a second configuration having a second profile that is greater than the first profile;    the implant comprising a plurality of expandable members each having a free end and an end joined to the implant, each member configured to diverge away from a substantially common central longitudinal axis of the implant during self-expansion from the first configuration to the second configuration.    
   
   
       22 . An implant device as defined in  claim 21  further comprising a flare, a leg, a flange, a hook, a barb, or a collar that is resiliently expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration.  
   
   
       23 . An implant device as defined in  claim 21  wherein the implant defines a hollow interior.  
   
   
       24 . An implant device as defined in  claim 21  wherein the implant is flexible after assuming the second configuration.  
   
   
       25 . An implant device as defined in  claim 21  wherein the implant defines a trunk portion aligned along the longitudinal axis of the implant and defining expandable members that are legs extending from the trunk portion and that diverge away from the longitudinal axis upon expansion.  
   
   
       26 . An implant device as defined in  claim 21  wherein a first portion of the body aligned along the longitudinal axis of the implant remains static during and after delivery and a second portion of the body is defined by expandable members that move to a different position relative to the first portion after implantation to comprise a second configuration of the device.  
   
   
       27 . An implant device as defined in  claim 26  wherein the implant comprises an elastic material and the motivational energy to cause the implant to move from the first to the second configuration is the inherent resiliency of the material.  
   
   
       28 . A method for placing a conduit in the wall of a patient's heart to establish a blood flow path between a coronary vessel and a heart chamber, the method comprising steps of: 
 (a) positioning a guide member that extends through the coronary vessel and the heart wall into a heart chamber;    (b) using the guide member to deliver a conduit into the heart chamber; and    (c) positioning the conduit in the heart wall to establish a blood flow path between the heart chamber and the interior of the vessel;    wherein the conduit is covered by a sheath, and further comprising covering at least a portion of the conduit while placing the conduit in the heart wall and then removing the sheath.