At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood though a body passageway. The pump system includes a distal section having at least one inlet to receive blood, a pumping section in fluid communication with the distal section to receive blood from the distal section, and a pump constructed and arranged to be positioned within the pumping section to draw blood into the pumping section in a first phase of operation and to pump blood out of the at least one outlet valve in a second phase of operation. The pump system may be configured such that the at least one inlet is in fluid communication with the pumping section in both the first phase of operation and the second phase of operation. At least one other aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood from one of the right atrium and the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
