Fay, Sharpe, Beall, Fagan, Minnich & McKee
Heart pump having contractible guide mechanism for pusher plate
 A blood pump is disclosed that is useful as ventricle assist or replacement device comprising a housing having a blood chamber and inlet and outlet ports for the ingress and egress of blood to and from the chamber. A deflectable diaphragm comprises a wall of the blood chamber which upon deflection collapses the blood chamber to urge blood from the chamber out the outlet port. A pusher plate is disposed in association with the diaphragm. The pusher plate includes a collapsible guide mechanism which guides the plate from a first fill position to a second eject position. The guide mechanism can comprise a telescopic guide or straight-line linkage which is collapsible to a first fill position to occupy a substantially lesser space in the housing than when extended to second eject position. The guide mechanism avoids the necessity of a projection from the housing to accommodate a stroke of a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism can be independent of or combined with the drive means. 
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
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Ji-Feng William A.
Chen Smith