Thermal stimulation and subsequent cooling for fully implantable lvad controller

A system for cooling a patient with an implantable blood pump, comprising:

• an internal controller configured to be in communication with the implantable blood pump;
• an external controller configured to be in communication with the internal controller, the external controller being configured to generate an alert if a temperature of the internal controller exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

A method of cooling a patient with an implantable blood pump, comprising:

• measuring a temperature of an internal controller with a temperature sensor coupled to the internal controller, the internal controller being in communication with the implantable blood pump;
• communicating the measured temperature to an external controller in communication with the internal controller;
• generating an alert if the temperature of the internal controller exceeds a temperature greater than 39 degrees Celsius, the alert notifying the patient to thermally stimulate a back of the neck of the patient.

The method of claim 21, wherein the alert notifies the patient to apply at least one from the group consisting of cool pad to a neck of the patient and a cooling vest.