Physiological heart pump control
AssigneeApex Medical Corp.
InventorsSanford Reich, Edward Theodore Bullister
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blood pump is joined in parallel flow between the left ventricle and aorta of a patient's heart. The pump includes an inlet pressure sensor and cooperating controller for measuring inlet pressure to the pump to control operation thereof. The controller adjusts speed of the pump in a closed loop control using feedback of the measured inlet pressure to conform operation of the pump with the natural cycle of the heart.
Claims33
A system for assisting blood pumping through a left ventricle of a patient's heart comprising:
- a blood pump adapted to be joined in flow communication between the left ventricle and an aorta inside said patient;
- an inlet pressure sensor for measuring inlet pressure of blood flow to said pump from said left ventricle;
- a controller operatively joined to said inlet pressure sensor, and to said pump for controlling operation thereof, and including:
- means including a summing junction for comparing said measured inlet pressure with a set value of said inlet pressure to determine a difference therebetween;
- and
- means for adjusting speed of said pump in a closed loop control using feedback of said measured inlet pressure at said summing junction to minimize said pressure difference between said measured inlet pressure and said set value thereof.
A method of controlling a blood pump joined in flow communication between a left ventricle and aorta of a patient's heart comprising:
- measuring inlet pressure of blood flow to said pump from said left ventricle;
- comparing said measured inlet pressure with a set value of said inlet pressure to determine a difference therebetween;
- and
- adjusting speed of said pump in a closed control loop using feedback of said measured inlet pressure to minimize said pressure difference between said measured inlet pressure and said set value thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.