Patent ID: 7273446

Claim:
A counterpulsation method of assisting the heart of a patient using a pump assist system, the method comprising: coupling a first conduit into fluid communication with the arterial system of the patient without entering the chest cavity or abdominal cavity of the patient, connecting a pulsatile pump to the first conduit, implanting the pulsatile pump in the patient without entering the chest cavity or abdominal cavity of the patient, coupling a second conduit to the first conduit, coupling the second conduit into fluid communication with the arterial system of the patient without entering the chest cavity or the abdominal cavity of the patient, connecting a power supply to the pulsatile pump, and coordinating the operation of the pulsatile pump to suction blood from the arterial system through the first and second conduits while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first and second conduits and the arterial system while the heart is in diastole.