A ventricular assist system and a method of implanting the system are disclosed. The system can have a pump, an inflow conduit, an outflow conduit, attachment ring, ring clamp, and a valvular structure. The attachment ring can be attached to the apex of the heart. The valvular structure can have a flexible, one-way valve in a rigid housing. The inflow conduit can be passed through the valvular structure and the attachment ring into a beating heart with minimal loss of blood. Devices such as slitting tool, coring knife, and/or C-clamp and use of the devices can form part of the system and method for implanting the ventricular assist device.
