Pneumatic bladder pump having stiffness symmetry

摘要

A compact blood pump includes a flexible bladder mounted within a rigid metal housing. Pneumatic pulses between the bladder and the housing produce pumping action in association with appropriate inlet and outlet valves. The bladder is configured to provide a stiffness characteristic which produces a recurring three lobe collapse pattern during pumping operation. Inlet and outlet passages to the bladder are associated with detachable seal rotatable fluid conduits in fluid-tight relationship to the bladder. The conduits are attachable and rotatable without transmitting torque to the flexible bladder.