Systems and methods for powering and controlling an implantable heart pump

A method for powering and controlling an implantable heart pump, the method comprising:

• selecting a battery housing configured to house a plurality of battery cells to supply power to the implantable heart pump, the battery housing having an outer region defining a first asymmetric shape extending entirely around the battery housing with respect to a primary longitudinal axis of the battery housing and a protruding portion, wherein a button is coupled to the battery housing and a latch extends from the button to a latch protrusion;
• coupling the battery housing to an external controller housing such that the latch protrusion engages a latch receiver of the external controller housing to thereby lock the battery housing to the external controller housing, the external controller housing having an outer region defining a second asymmetric shape extending entirely around the external controller housing with respect to a primary longitudinal axis of the external controller housing and defining a void, the external controller housing configured to house a processor configured to be programmed to control the implantable heart pump;
• permitting the plurality of battery cells to supply power to the implantable heart pump until a time to replace the plurality of battery cells;
• depressing the button toward the battery housing to cause the latch protrusion to disengage from the latch receiver;
• removing, while depressing the button, the battery housing from the external controller housing;
• and
• replacing the plurality of battery cells with a new set of battery cells for coupling to the external controller housing for supplying power to the implantable heart pump,
• wherein the second asymmetric shape of the external controller housing is configured to interface with the first asymmetric shape of the battery housing such that the first asymmetric shape and the second asymmetric shape conform to one another in a manner that aligns the protruding portion of the battery housing with the void of the external controller housing when the battery housing is coupled to external controller housing.