A DEVICE AND AN INTRODUCER FOR PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTAL FLOW OF BLOOD

摘要

A device for providing a supplemental flow of blood from the left ventricle of a heart to a coronary artery thereof comprises a conduit having a first part and a second part. The first and second parts have longitudinal axes, which are at an angle to each other. The conduit further has a flexible part forming a connection between the first part and the second part. An introducer for the device comprises a first introducing means for said first part of the conduit and a second introducing means for said second part of the conduit. The second introducing means comprises an L-shaped element for moving the second part in relation to the first part and utilizing the flexible part of the conduit in order to introduce the second part of the conduit into the coronary artery when the first part is in place. A method for bypassing an occlusion by means of the device comprises the steps of making an incision in said coronary artery distal to the occlusion, creating a channel in a heart wall into the left ventricle cavity, inserting the first part into the channel by means of the first introducing means, inserting the second part of the conduit through said incision into the coronary artery by means of the second introducing means, and retracting said first and second introducing means.