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Figure 1 Diagram of Thoratec left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The Thoratec HeartMate LVAD initiates support at the left ventricular apex with a cannula allowing blood to flow across a 25-mm porcine valve, into the LVAD pumping chamber. After the pump fills, it ejects a volume of 83 cc. Blood is ejected across a second 25-mm porcine valve into an outflow graft with a distal anastomosis into the ascending aorta. The pump rhythm is independent of native cardiac rhythm.