| abstract |
An improved artificial heart (10) for pumping blood. The artificial heart (10) comprises first and second pump units (12 and 14), each including a pump body (16) defining a collapsible bellows (18) and a fluid passageway (20) therethrough. Further, each pump body (16) has a first end portion (22) defining an outlet opening (30) and a second end portion (26) defining an inlet opening (32). Each of the first and second pump units (12 and 14) further comprises first and second valve units (24 and 28). The first valve unit (24) is secured to the first end portion (22) of the pump body (16) in fluid communication with the outlet opening (32), and includes a first one-way valve (38) for allowing blood to flow out of the pump body (16) and restricting the flow of blood into the pump body (16). The second valve unit (28) is secured to the second end portion (26) of the pump body (16) in fluid communication with the inlet openings (32), and includes a second one-way valve for allowing blood to flow into the pump body (16) and restricting the flow of blood out of the pump body (16). The artificial heart (10) also comprises drive means (61) for selectively collapsing and expanding the collapsible bellows (18) of the first and second pump units (12 and 14). |