The disposable BVS Blood Pump (Figure 1) is a pneumatically driven two-chambered device that supports one side of the heart. The BVS Blood Pump is placed external to the patient. The device takes over the pumping function of the heart to allow the heart to rest and potentially recover. The blood is re-routed from the heart to the pump and then back to the heart through its normal course of flow. To learn more about how the heart functions click here.

Connection of the BVS Blood pump to the patient is accomplished by connecting the BVS tubing to cannulae, or tubes, securely placed (implanted) in the patient's heart. These tubes pass through the patient's skin for connection to the BVS Blood Pump tubing. Figure 2 shows a patient on bi-ventricular BVS support.