Patent ID: 8608798

Claim:
A total artificial heart, comprising: a pump housing comprising first, second, third and fourth vascular connectors; wherein each of the vascular connectors are in fluid communication with a bore within the housing; and a rotor configured to be rotatably housed within the bore; the rotor having an impeller configured to pump blood to and from the vascular connectors upon rotation of the rotor about a central axis of the bore; wherein the rotor is responsive to magnetic forces imparted from said pump housing to drive rotation of the rotor; wherein the rotor is configured to translate along the central axis of the bore from a first position to a second position; wherein in the first position, the rotor is configured to draw a first volume of blood from the first vascular connector and pump the first volume of blood into the second vascular connector while blocking flow to and from the third and fourth vascular connectors; and wherein in the second position, the rotor is configured to draw a second volume of blood from the third vascular connector and pump the second volume of blood into the fourth vascular connector while blocking flow to and from the first and second vascular connectors.