Importance

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Abstract

Methods and devices for placing a target vessel in fluid communication with a source of blood and a target vessel. A conduit includes first portion adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a source of blood, such as a heart chamber, and a second portion adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a target vessel having a lumen, such as coronary artery. The first and second conduit portions are transverse to each other such that the conduit is generally T-shaped. The conduit lies on an exterior of the heart between the blood source and the target vessel and is configured to deliver blood in multiple directions into the lumen of the target vessel. For example, in an occluded coronary artery, blood flows both toward and away from the occlusion. The conduit may be flexible, rigid, collapsible or non-collapsible, and may be formed of synthetic vascular graft material, tissue, or a combination of the two. A conduit delivery device is disclosed for deploying the conduit in a target vessel and perfusing the vessel during such deployment.

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First Claim