This paper presents a new application of two linear magnetic actuators (LMAs) in a life-saving device for heart failure, generally called an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). This paper evaluates the performance of an LMA- driven IABP (linear IABP), an LMA-driven total artificial heart (linear TAH), and a mock circulatory testing system. The following conclusions were reached: (1) The LMAs for the TAH and the IABP have high thrust/volume ratios of 0.76 and 0.88 Newtons/mL, respectively. (2) Heart failure was induced by controlling the current of the linear TAH. At that time, the heart's mean flow rate of 1.93 L/min dropped to 0.7 L/min. (3) When the linear TAH in heart failure was resuscitated with the help of a linear IABP, the mean flow rate was maintained at 1.21 L/min.
