Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or
stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be
positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow
between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal to the
occlusion or stenosis. The conduit has a section of blood vessel attached
to its interior lumen which preferably includes at least one naturally
occurring one-way valve positioned therein. The valve prevents the
backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.