PCT No. PCT/GB95/00482 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 23, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 23, 1996 PCT Filed Mar. 6, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/23621 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 8, 1995A driver for at least one pneumatically-actuated ventricular assist device (VAD), includes a portable housing which encloses a single pump for performing blood-filling and blood-emptying operations of the VAD, a switching valve for alternately communicating the inlet and outlet of the pump with the VAD, a vacuum relief device for subjecting the VAD to negative pressure when performing blood-filling, a battery, and a controller for controlling operation of the driver. The use of a single pump enables the driver to be fully portable. A novel blood pumping system and a method of using the same are also disclosed.
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