Patent ID: 7585322

Claim:
A method of aiding cardiac circulation, the method comprising: providing a housing having a cavity therein, a first sidewall with an outer surface, a first hole passing through the first sidewall into the cavity, a second sidewall with an outer surface, a second hole passing through the second sidewall into the cavity, an inlet for communicating blood into the cavity, and an outlet for communicating blood out of the cavity; positioning a first membrane against the outer surface of the first sidewall of the housing such that the first membrane covers the first hole, the first membrane being substantially flat in an unflexed position, and positioning a second membrane against the outer surface of the second sidewall of the housing such that the second membrane covers the second hole, the second membrane being substantially flat in an unflexed position, such that the housing and the first and second membranes at least partially define a blood chamber; mounting a first shell having a concave inner surface to the outer surface of the first sidewall of the housing such that the first membrane and the concave inner surface of the first shell at least partially define a first gas chamber; mounting a second shell having a concave inner surface to the outer surface of the second sidewall of the housing such that the second membrane and the concave inner surface of the second shell at least partially define a second gas chamber; connecting a first end of the gas duct to the housing such that the duct is in fluid communication with said first and second gas chambers; and connecting a second end of the gas duct to a pump; and using the pump to communicate gas into the first and second gas chambers via said gas duct to cause said first and second membranes to flex through said first and second holes, respectively, and into the blood chamber and pump blood in the blood chamber through the outlet.