Patent ID: 7074176

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a. a source of pressurized air; b. a pump cylinder connected in fluid communication to the pressurized air source by an air input line, wherein the pump cylinder comprises: an interior space; and a sealed, biased air movement member positioned in the interior space and dividing the interior of the pump cylinder into an input chamber and a discharge chamber; c. a pneumatic ventricular assistance device connected in fluid communication with the discharge chamber by a driveline, wherein the pneumatic ventricular assistance device comprises a sac that is selectively expandable and collapsible in response to air pressure emanating from the pump cylinder's discharge chamber; d. a first air distribution device in fluid communication with the air input line and the input chamber, wherein the first air distribution device can be electrically controlled to connect the input chamber to the air input line and to ambient atmosphere; e. a second air distribution device in fluid communication with the driveline and the air input line, wherein the second air distribution device can be electrically controlled to connect the driveline, and the pump cylinder to the ambient atmosphere; and f. electronic controlling means for regulating maximum systolic ventricular pressure and maximum diastolic vacuum from a patient's heart, through the amount of air selectively supplied to the pump's inlet and discharge chambers, without the need for an electric motor, wherein the controlling means comprises an electronic controller electrically connected to the first and second air distribution devices, wherein the electronic controller is configured: (i) to cause the first air distribution device to connect the input chamber to the air input line, thereby compressing the biased air movement member and causing a pressure level in the driveline to increase for driving the ventricular assist device during systole; (ii) to cause the first air distribution device to connect the input chamber to the ambient atmosphere, thereby reducing pressure against the biased air movement member and allowing the biased air movement member to move back to a non-compressed state, wherein the driveline pressure level decreases for driving the ventricular assist device during diastole; and (iii) to cause the second air distribution device to connect the driveline to the ambient atmosphere, for purposes of letting air into the driveline, when the driveline pressure level falls below a desired vacuum level for diastolic operation of the ventricular assist device.