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Abstract

A method of making a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) using muscle wrapped around a mandrel to form a muscle pouch, the open end of which is sewn to a circular sheet of patch material having connections to one end of each of a pair of vascular grafts, or alternatively to one end of a single vascular graft. The second ends of these vascular grafts are used to connect the LVAD to the aorta. After the muscle pouch has been formed around the mandrel, the mandrel is removed and replaced by a balloon which is inserted into the muscle pouch and inflated to maintain the desired shape of the muscle pouch during healing and stimulation of the pouch. The balloon is subsequently removed preceding activation of the LVAD to allow it to begin pumping blood. Alternatively, various other shape-maintaining forms which are expandable and collapsible may be used in place of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, an additional strip of latissimus dorsi or other appropriate muscle or a mechanical clamping device may be used to synchronously compress the aorta between the ends of the vascular grafts anastomosed to the aorta.

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First Claim