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Figure 1 Normal HeartMate left ventricular assist device (LVAD) physiology. The Thoratec HeartMate LVAD commences support at the left ventricular apex where a cannula allows blood to flow across a 25-mm Medtronic pig valve into the LVAD pumping chamber. An electric motor moves a cam 360°, which engages and raises a pusher plate. This movement ejects a systolic volume of 80 cc. Blood is ejected across a second 25-mm Medtronic pig valve through an outflow graft that has an anastamosis in the proximal ascending aorta. Synchronous pumping means LVAD systole occurs simultaneously with native left ventricular systole. Asynchronous pumping indicates the LVAD ejects during native left ventricular diastole.
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