A cannula (10) for implantation into a chamber of a heart (14) includes an elongate body (16) having a lumen (22) extending along a longitudinal axis (24), a first end (18), and a second end (20). The first and second ends (18, 20) define openings (26a, 26b) into the lumen (22) and the second end (20) includes a flat portion (32). A flared tip portion (30) extends from the flat portion (32) of the second end (20) in a direction toward the first end (18), and flares radially outward from the longitudinal axis (24) and in such direction. A ring member (36) extends around the axis (24) of the elongate body (16) and is spaced from the flared tip portion (30), and the ring member (36) is adapted for retaining the elongate body (16) in a position relative to a wall (40) of the chamber (14a). An embodiment of a flared tip portion (122) may further include a barbed surface (128) configured to contact tissue around an aperture (13) in the wall (40) of the heart (14) when the cannula (10) travels through the aperture (13).
