A controller for a miniature intra-aortic ventricular assist device.
Two control algorithms have been developed for a minimally invasive axial-flow ventricular assist device (VAD) for placement in the descending aorta. The purpose of the device is to offload the left ventricle and to augment lower body perfusion in patients with moderate congestive heart failure. The VAD consists of an intra-aortic impeller with a built-in permanent magnet rotor and an extra-aortic stator. The control algorithms, which use pressure readings upstream and downstream of the VAD to determine the pump status, have been tested in a mock circulatory system under two conditions, namely with or without afterload sensitivity. The results give an insight into controller design for an intra-aortic blood pump working in series with the heart.
Department of Engineering School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. polin.hsu@gmail.com
Po-Lin
PL
Hsu
Julius
J
Bruch
Richard
R
McMahon
D000465:Algorithms; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016276:Ventricular Function