A pumping system (200) for controlling the flow of interatrial blood comprises, housed inside a container (201), a control element (30, 30′, 30″) of the interatrial blood flow. The control element comprises: at least one worm screw (31), the rotation of which creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a pair of counter-rotating propellers (31′); or a pair of membranes (31″) whose deformation creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a flexible structure (31″) whose change in volume within the container (201) creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood.

A pulsatile fluid pump system for driving a fluid pump assembly includes a reciprocating linear motor having a magnet and a coil, the magnet moving in relation to the coil, the coil having an electrical input. The pulsatile fluid pump system further includes a controller system having an electrical output coupled to the electrical input of the coil, and the controller system is configured to execute a waveform program defining an electrical waveform at the electrical output. The waveform program is configured to control operation of the linear motor by modification of a feature, selected from the group consisting of amplitude, frequency, shape, and combinations thereof, of the electrical waveform at the electrical output. The waveform program is further configured to accept a set of user-specifiable parameters defining the performance of the linear motor and to modify the electrical waveform in response to such parameters.