High-pressure drive system

A high pressure inflation system for driving an inflatable heart assistance device, said system including:

• a fluid source for supplying a fluid at a relatively high pressure;
• a compression tank plumbed in selective communication with said pneumatic source and operative to store a predetermined volume of said pressurized fluid at approximately said high pressure;
• a controller for generating predetermined sequencing signals for inflation and deflation of said heart assistance device;
• and
• a transfer valve disposed downstream of said compression tank and coupled to said heart assistance device, said compression tank and transfer valve maintained in close proximal relation to said heart assistance device, said transfer valve responsive to said predetermined sequencing signals to couple said heart assistance device to said compression tank and expand said device with said pressurized fluid to compress and assist said heart, said transfer valve further including a vent port responsive to predetermined vent signals to connect said expanded device to said vent port to deflate said compression device.