A diaphragm assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump comprising an edge-mount flexible diaphragm having an inside surface for contacting a fluid to be pumped, an outside surface exposed to ambient air, the diaphragm configured for operation cyclically between a diastole mode and a systole mode; a systolic distribution brace having a maximum radial extent and having an interior wall configured to cup a portion of the outside surface of the diaphragm; a diastolic plate, embedded in the diaphragm, having a maximum radial extent and mechanically coupled to a portion of the inside surface of the diaphragm; wherein the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace at a periphery thereof is greater than the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, and the systolic distribution brace, the diastolic plate, and the diaphragm are mechanically linked to each other, so that: (i) in the course of the systole mode, the diaphragm overhangs the periphery of the systolic distribution brace and force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the periphery of the systolic distribution brace, and (ii) in the course of the diastole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the diastolic plate, wherein the differing radial extents of the systolic distribution brace and the diastolic plate produce differing distributions of force on the diaphragm over the course of these two modes, so as to distribute stress on the diaphragm and reduce strain on the diaphragm over the course of a pumping cycle. an edge-mount flexible diaphragm having an inside surface for contacting a fluid to be pumped, an outside surface exposed to ambient air, the diaphragm configured for operation cyclically between a diastole mode and a systole mode; a systolic distribution brace having a maximum radial extent and having an interior wall configured to cup a portion of the outside surface of the diaphragm; a diastolic plate, embedded in the diaphragm, having a maximum radial extent and mechanically coupled to a portion of the inside surface of the diaphragm; wherein the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace at a periphery thereof is greater than the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, and the systolic distribution brace, the diastolic plate, and the diaphragm are mechanically linked to each other, so that: (i) in the course of the systole mode, the diaphragm overhangs the periphery of the systolic distribution brace and force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the periphery of the systolic distribution brace, and (ii) in the course of the diastole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the diastolic plate, wherein the differing radial extents of the systolic distribution brace and the diastolic plate produce differing distributions of force on the diaphragm over the course of these two modes, so as to distribute stress on the diaphragm and reduce strain on the diaphragm over the course of a pumping cycle. (i) in the course of the systole mode, the diaphragm overhangs the periphery of the systolic distribution brace and force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the periphery of the systolic distribution brace, and (ii) in the course of the diastole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the diastolic plate, wherein the differing radial extents of the systolic distribution brace and the diastolic plate produce differing distributions of force on the diaphragm over the course of these two modes, so as to distribute stress on the diaphragm and reduce strain on the diaphragm over the course of a pumping cycle.