Alarm methods of heart assist system

Abstract

A heart assist system (1) comprises a control unit (2) and a sound generating device (4), wherein the control unit (2) is designed to identify and process alarm events (43) and to perform control tasks in the heart assist system (1), characterized in that a storage device (6) is provided, which is designed to store one or more predefined alarm signal time curves (45) and one or more alarm priorities (42), so that one alarm signal time curve (45) and one alarm priority (42) are respectively assigned to one alarm event (43), and a sound generating control device (8) is also provided. ), which is designed to modulate the volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve (45) corresponding to the alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) when the alarm event (43) is identified, the volume time curve depends on the alarm priority (42) corresponding to the respective alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) and the time period starting from the identification of the alarm event (43), and the aforementioned sound generation control device (8) is designed to control the sound generation device (4) to convert the alarm signal time curve (45) modulated with the volume time curve into a sound signal when the alarm event (43) is identified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present patent application relates to an alarm device in a heart assist system, in particular a heart assist system having a pump system connected to a circulatory system to maintain blood circulation. In a heart assist system, it is very important to output information about the patient's condition and also about the device to medical personnel or a medical monitoring system. In this case, acoustic signals are particularly important because they can be perceived without direct eye contact and even from a distance. Background Art

[0002] A possible acoustic alarm device for a heart pump is proposed in patent publication EP 1 812 094 B1. The pump control system described herein comprises, inter alia, means for receiving and outputting audio signals. Summary of the invention

[0003] The claimed heart assist system is based on the object of improving existing heart assist system solutions. This object is achieved in particular by modulating a volume time curve onto the respective alarm signal time curve, which volume time curve depends not only on the time period from the occurrence of the alarm event but also on the alarm priority assigned to the alarm event.

[0004] The term "event" refers to the occurrence of a certain state. The occurrence of a state is usually determined by comparison with a reference value. The comparison result describes the determined state and thus the event. Depending on the context, the reference value can be fixed over time or change over time. With the establishment of the comparison result, the event has been confirmed in the heart assist system or the event has been recognized by the heart assist system. Usually, events receive predefined identifiers, such as characterizing, clear names or numbers, so that they can be processed within the heart assist system, for example by a software program. However, processing by electronic circuits is also possible in principle.

[0005] For example, the state in the heart assist system is defined as the signed value of the voltage or current that can be measured between or at predetermined points. Comparing the measured voltage and current with a reference value results in the occurrence of a specific state being determined. The voltage or current can be generated, for example, by a sensor, wherein the generated voltage or current can correspond to a physical parameter such as pressure, strain, flow, length, light, sound, acceleration, magnetic field, or chemical composition of a substance. However, the voltage or current can also be directly generated by a biological process and derived with the aid of electrodes and provided to the heart assist system at the electrical input. Examples thereof are electrocardiogram signals, electroencephalogram signals, or electromyogram signals. The amplitude of the sensor voltage or current is usually first increased with an amplifier, then loaded on the heart assist system and processed.

[0006] In addition to sensory and biological event sources, the heart assist device itself can be an event source, and events can be generated by internal electronic components or control units of the heart assist system, for example by voltages occurring at the output of timers, counters, clocks or oscillators or also by voltages generated by components of the heart assist system to indicate respective internal states. In addition, software components can also generate events, where for example calculation results or logical association results are considered as states whose occurrence is determined by comparison with reference values.

[0007] Events are usually predefined in the heart assist system so that predefined reactions of the heart assist system can occur according to predefined events. Alarm events are special events for which predefined alarms are triggered as a reaction to the heart assist system. Alarm events may be related to the patient and his condition, but can also be affected by technical events, such as failure of the control unit or the voltage source.

[0008] Examples of events that trigger an alarm are in particular the failure of a critical component of the heart assist system, a drop in blood flow, the removal of multiple voltage sources or significant deviations of critical sensor values ​​from their normal values. Examples of events that do not trigger an alarm are in particular the completion of the charging of the internal battery, the user operating the display or buttons, changes in sensor values ​​within tolerance limits or alarm limits, such as small changes in motor current. Other examples of events that do not trigger an alarm are in particular the confirmation of predefined non-critical physiological states (which are only stored in the log and are later read and checked by the doctor), and changes in the operating mode of the heart assist system.

[0009] The claimed heart assist system comprises a first control unit and at least one first sound generating device. The control unit is designed to detect and process events and in particular alarm events and to process data and to perform control tasks in the heart assist system. The control unit can be a microcontroller, a microprocessor, but can also be an electronic circuit comprising a plurality of components and designed to perform control tasks.

[0010] The heart assist system also includes a storage device and a sound generation controller. The storage device can be a RAM module (RAM: random access memory) or a ROM module (ROM: read-only memory). In addition, other forms of memory can be conceived as memory, such as EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), FPGA (field programmable gate array), or even magnetic or solid-state hard disk drives. The storage device is designed to store one or more predefined alarm signal time curves and one or more alarm priorities, so that an alarm signal time curve and an alarm priority are respectively assigned to one or more predefined alarm events. For example, the corresponding assignment can be achieved by a table stored in the memory, in which an alarm event and the corresponding alarm priority and a pointer to a storage area containing the alarm signal time curve corresponding to the alarm event are entered in each row of the table. As an alternative, the assignment relationship can also be achieved by a database stored in the memory. These two possible implementation methods are only examples and are by no means a complete list of possible implementation forms.

[0011] For example, the alarm signal time curve can be stored as a weighted frequency sequence or weighted frequency combination. This can be done, for example, by a series of compilations, each of which contains a time period, a frequency list and a list of the frequency volumes contained in the frequency list. Alternatively, for example, the storage of the alarm signal time curve in the form of a sampled time curve can be achieved. In principle, other possible ways of storing the time curve of the alarm signal are conceivable, so that the possible ways given are only to be understood as examples.

[0012] The alarm priority reflects the importance of the alarm event. The importance is given by an element of a finite set, where the finite set usually contains only a few predetermined elements. Examples of such a set are M = {high priority; medium priority; low priority} or M = {1; 2; 3; 4}.

[0013] Examples of important alarm events (i.e. high priority alarm events) in a heart assist system are in particular failure of a critical component of the heart assist system, a drop in blood flow, removal of multiple voltage sources or significant deviations of critical sensors from their normal values. Examples of less important alarm events (i.e. medium or low priority alarm events) in a heart assist system are e.g. a low battery state, unplugging of a voltage source, failure of a non-critical component or also deviations of non-critical sensor values ​​from their normal values.

[0014] The sound generation controller can be part of the heart assist system controller. For example, it can be implemented in the form of a process or function module in the controller software and can also be close to the electrical terminals of the controller. Alternatively, it is also possible that the sound generation controller is implemented in the form of a hardware module in the heart assist system controller, in the form of an independent electronic circuit or with a separate microcontroller. The sound generation controller receives information about the confirmation of an alarm event and what kind of alarm event it is, for example, from the heart assist system controller.

[0015] The sound generation controller of the heart assist system is designed to modulate the respective predefined volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve correspondingly assigned to the alarm event in the storage device when an alarm event is confirmed, and the volume time curve depends on the alarm priority correspondingly assigned to the alarm event in the storage device and the time period from the confirmation of the alarm event. To this end, the sound generation controller retrieves the alarm priority and the alarm signal time curve of the respective confirmed event from the storage device so as to subsequently change the volume time curve of the alarm signal in a predetermined manner. The change is carried out, for example, in such a way that the volume of the alarm signal time curve is changed according to a predetermined on-off mode related to the alarm priority. The on-off mode means that the signal volume repeatedly changes from the value stored in the memory to zero and vice versa in a predetermined manner. The time period in which the volume value is zero is called the off phase, and the other time periods are called the on phase. In the on phase, the volume of the alarm signal also increases with time until it reaches a maximum value.

[0016] The sound generation controller is also designed to control one or more sound generation devices when an alarm event is confirmed, so that they convert the aforementioned alarm signal time curve modulated with the volume time curve into an acoustic signal.

[0017] For this purpose, the sound generating device can be, for example, a digital-analog converter unit, an amplifier and an acoustic transducer, for example a broadband loudspeaker or a narrowband loudspeaker, such as a piezo buzzer, known from hi-fi technology or telephone applications for generating speech. A broadband loudspeaker is characterized by its frequency range in which sound signals can be emitted over a large part of the human hearing range. A narrowband loudspeaker is characterized by its ability to emit sound at a characteristic frequency. Other sound frequencies can only be emitted at low power. If a plurality of different sound frequencies are to be emitted while using narrowband loudspeakers, a plurality of narrowband loudspeakers with different characteristic frequencies can be combined, wherein the control for each frequency or each narrowband loudspeaker can be carried out separately from the other frequencies or narrowband loudspeakers.

[0018] The digital-to-analog converter is controlled by the sound generating controller in such a way that the sound generating controller sends the sampled alarm signal whose volume has been changed as an input signal to the digital-to-analog converter, and the digital-to-analog converter is controlled in such a way that it converts the received signal into a voltage signal corresponding to the input signal, which is then amplified and forwarded to the downstream sound transducer.

[0019] Alternatively, the sound generation device can also be implemented by an electronic oscillator circuit or a combination of multiple electronic oscillator circuits, each of which generates a voltage signal with a fixed frequency. The sound generation controller controls the oscillator in such a way that the frequency determined in the alarm signal time curve is generated and in a further stage the volume value determined in the alarm signal time curve and modified according to the alarm priority and time period is added and combined. In order to achieve the desired volume level, the generated alarm signal can optionally be further amplified before being transmitted to one or more sound sensors.

[0020] The heart assist system optionally comprises a heart pump and a control unit for controlling the heart assist system including the heart pump.

[0021] Another optional feature of the claimed heart assist system which increases the fail-safety of the entire system is at least one second electrodynamic sound generating device which can be controlled separately from the first sound generating device. All sound generating devices can together comprise at least one broadband loudspeaker and at least one narrowband loudspeaker. Optionally, however, only broadband loudspeakers or only narrowband loudspeakers are also possible.

[0022] The claimed heart assist system can optionally include at least one second sound generating controller, which is designed to detect a functional failure of the first sound generating controller and control at least one sound generating device so that the sound generating device generates a predefined sound signal. One possible way to detect a functional failure of the first sound generating controller is that the first sound generating controller generates a voltage signal pulsed in a predetermined pattern at the electrical output end during normal operation, which is evaluated by the second sound generating controller at the electrical output end. This evaluation can be performed, for example, by a simple microcontroller or by an electronic circuit. The second sound generating controller can be designed so that it detects deviations from the predetermined pattern, such as the absence of a pulse, and then outputs a control signal that allows electrical control of the speaker. The above-mentioned electrical control of the speaker can be achieved by an electronic oscillator circuit that generates a pulse voltage signal, which, once conducted to the speaker, causes the generation of a corresponding sound signal.

[0023] The heart assist system can optionally include a second voltage source, which is designed to supply voltage to at least one sound generating device and a second sound generating controller when the first voltage source fails. The safety device is intended to identify a main power failure, but at the same time allows for the heart assist system to notify the fault state with sound. For example, this optional function can be implemented using a simple diode circuit or an integrated circuit.

[0024] An optional component of the claimed heart assist system is a sound radiating device designed to influence the sound radiation. It can be, for example, a perforated area or an arrangement of a plurality of slit-shaped openings arranged in parallel. Here, in the case of a perforated area, the orifice diameter is not less than 2 mm, and in the case of a slit structure, the slit width is not less than 1.5 mm. In addition, the angle γ between the main direction of the sound radiation achieved by the sound generating device and the display normal vector pointing away from the display is optionally less than or equal to 90°. Since the display is usually pointed away from the wearer of the heart assist system, the sound radiation is also basically carried out away from the wearer.

[0025] Furthermore, the sound signal can optionally be influenced by a sound influencing device which contains other elements in the sound propagation path, such as a resonant chamber or also a cover, a foil or a fiber web. In this way, a frequency-weighted influence of the sound is achieved.

[0026] Furthermore, the claimed heart assist system optionally comprises a wireless interface designed to exchange data with a wireless interface of an external unit. The external unit optionally has an optical signaling unit. Optionally, the external unit may also comprise an acoustic signaling unit. The wireless interface may be, for example, a WLAN interface, a Bluetooth interface, a short-range radio interface or a cellular radio interface, for example for standard GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA, LTE or 5G.

[0027] The claimed alarm method comprises, as a first step, the recognition of an alarm event by the heart assist system. The recognition can be carried out either by a software program or by an electronic circuit. In this case, for example, a voltage value or a current value applied to the system input is compared with a reference value, or a calculated value or a value determined by a logical association is compared with a reference value. The type of alarm event is determined by the type of comparison performed.

[0028] In a second method step, the alarm priority correspondingly assigned to the alarm event and the alarm signal time curve correspondingly assigned to the alarm event are retrieved from a storage device.

[0029] In a third method step, a predefined volume time curve is modulated onto the retrieved alarm signal time curve as a function of the alarm priority and the time period since the alarm event was confirmed. This modification of the alarm time curve is performed, for example, in such a way that the volume of the alarm signal time curve is changed as a function of a predefined on-off pattern associated with the alarm priority. The on-off pattern means that the signal volume changes repeatedly from a value stored in the memory to zero and vice versa in a predefined manner. The time periods with a zero volume value are referred to as off phases, the other time periods as on phases. Furthermore, the volume of the alarm signal is changed in such a way that, during the on phase, the volume increases to a maximum value as the time since the alarm event was recognized increases.

[0030] In a fourth method step, the sound generating device is controlled in such a way that the time curve of the warning signal modulated with the time curve of the volume is converted into an acoustic signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Exemplary embodiments are shown below and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 a system overview diagram showing basic alarm-related components of the claimed heart assist system,

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a storage device is shown, which has a corresponding relationship between predefined alarm priorities and predefined alarm signal time curves and predefined alarm events,

[0034] Figure 3 a system overview diagram showing basic alarm related components including optional components of the claimed heart assist system,

[0035] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing sound radiation,

[0036] Figure 5 shows a schematic variant embodiment for interconnecting the first and second voltage sources,

[0037] Figure 6 shows a possible implementation of the sound radiation device,

[0038] Figure 7 Method steps are shown for retrieving and modifying the time curve of an alarm signal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] exist Figure 1The basic alarm-related components of the heart assist system 1 are shown in a system overview diagram. Here, the heart pump 20 is placed in the patient's body, while the other shown components are combined in the extracorporeal unit 3. For example, all components of the extracorporeal unit can be located in a housing outside the patient's body. The central component of the heart assist system 1 is the control unit 2. The control unit 2 is designed to recognize and process events, in particular alarm events 43, as well as to process data and to perform and coordinate control tasks in the heart assist system. Its control tasks include, in particular, controlling the heart pump 20. The control unit 2 can be a microcontroller, a microprocessor, but it can also be an electronic circuit that contains multiple components and is designed to take on control tasks. The sound generation controller 8 can be implemented as part of the control unit, for example on its own processor core or as a software process or functional module in the software. But in principle, it can also be implemented separately in a microcontroller designed for this purpose.

[0040] An electronic storage device 6 storing alarm signal time curves and alarm priorities and their corresponding relationships with alarm events is connected to the sound generation controller 8 .

[0041] The sound generating device 4 is controlled by a sound generating controller 8. It comprises, for example, a digital-analog converter, an amplifier and a loudspeaker. The frequency composition of the sound generated by the sound generating device is influenced by the sound influencing device 4. The sound influencing device 4 comprises a cover, a foil membrane or also a resonance chamber which exerts an influence on the sound signal. In addition to the sound influencing function, the foil membrane and the cover also exert a protective effect in order to protect the heart assist system from moisture or particles, for example. If the specific type of influence of the sound influencing function is known, it can be taken into account by the sound generating device 4 during the sound signal generation process, for example by supplementary digital filtering or analog filtering or by adjusting the alarm time curve stored in the storage device.

[0042] The sound radiating device 11 comprises components influencing the sound radiation, such as a horn geometry, a perforated area or a slit structure. Here, in the case of a perforated area, the orifice diameter is selected not to be less than 2 mm, and in the case of a slit structure, the slit width is not to be less than 1.5 mm.

[0043] Figure 2 A storage device 6 is shown. It stores predefined alarm events 43-43 (m) With predefined alarm priority 42-42 (p) and predefined alarm signal time curve 45-45 (n) The corresponding distribution relationship and the predefined alarm signal time curve 45-45 (n). The storage device can be a RAM module (RAM: Random Access Memory), but also a ROM module (ROM: Read Only Memory). Other possible memory implementations have been listed above. The storage device is designed to store one or more predefined alarm signal time curves and one or more alarm priorities, so that one alarm signal time curve and one alarm priority are respectively assigned to one or more predefined alarm events. For example, the corresponding assignment can be achieved by a table stored in the memory, in which an alarm event and the corresponding alarm priority are entered in each row of the table as well as a pointer to a storage area containing the alarm signal time curve assigned to the alarm event.

[0044] Figure 3 The system overview shows the basic components of the heart assist system 1. The central component is the control unit 2, whose task is to detect and process events and in particular alarm events 43 and to process data and to execute and coordinate control tasks within the heart assist system 1, which include in particular the control of the heart pump 20, the control of the wireless interface 14 and the control of the sound generation controller 8.

[0045] The first sound generation controller 8 has the task of controlling the sound generation. For safety reasons, the heart assist system 1 has another second sound generation controller 8'. It monitors the first sound generation controller 8, and when it is determined that the first sound generation controller 8 has a functional failure, it sends a warning signal with the help of the second sound generation device 4', the second sound influencing device 5' and the second sound radiation device 11'. A feasible way to detect the functional failure of the first sound generation controller 8 is that the first sound generation controller 8 generates a voltage signal pulsed in a predefined pattern at the electrical output end during normal operation, and the voltage signal is evaluated by the second sound generation controller 8 at the electrical input end. The evaluation can be performed, for example, by a simple microcontroller or by an electronic circuit. The second sound generation controller 8' can be designed so that it recognizes deviations from the predefined pattern (for example, no pulses) and then outputs a control signal that allows electrical control of the speaker. The above-mentioned electrical control of the speaker can be achieved by an electronic oscillator circuit that generates a pulse voltage signal, which, once conducted to the speaker, causes the generation of a corresponding sound signal.

[0046] In addition, the heart assist system 1 optionally has a display 51, optionally has a wireless interface 14 and a first voltage source 9 and optionally has a second voltage source 9'. The second voltage source 9' is designed to supply voltage to the second sound generating device 4' and the second sound generating controller 8' when the first voltage source 9 fails. The wireless interface 14 can be, for example, a WLAN interface. Other implementations of the wireless interface 14 have been listed above.

[0047] The external unit 30 is designed to exchange data with the wireless interface 14 of the heart assist system 1 via a wireless interface 31. The external unit 30 also comprises its own control unit 32, an optical signaling unit 33 and an acoustic signaling unit 34. The wireless interface 31 may be a WLAN interface, for example.

[0048] Figure 4 The display 51 of the heart assist system 1 is schematically shown. A normal vector n is defined in the surface center of gravity 53 of the display surface 52. d 54, which is perpendicular to the display surface 52 and points away from the device. The sound radiating device 11, 11' preferably emits sound in such a way that the normal vector n d 54 and parallel to the main sound radiation direction n s 61 Extended vector n s The angle γ63 between '62 is less than or equal to 90°.

[0049] Figure 5 A possible way of how two voltage sources 9 and 9' can be connected to each other is schematically shown. A first voltage source 9 provides a voltage with a value V1. A second voltage source 9', which serves as a backup voltage source, provides a voltage with a value V2. Here, V1>V2, for example V1=12V and V2=3V, wherein both voltages V1 and V2 are measured with respect to ground. The output voltage V3 of the circuit serves as a voltage supply source for a sound generation controller 8', which controls a sound generation device 4'. In normal operation, i.e. when voltage values ​​V1=12V and V2=3V are applied, the diode 61 is turned on and the diode 62 is blocked, so that current can flow from the voltage source 9 into the sound generation controller 8' and the sound generation device 4', but only a small reverse current flows through the diode 62. However, if the voltage source 9 collapses, i.e. V1=0V, the diode 61 is blocked and the diode 62 is turned on. Thus, in this case, current flows from the voltage source 9' into the sound generation controller 8' and the sound generation device 4'.

[0050] Figure 6 A possible implementation of a sound radiating device 11, 11' with a rectangular perforated area 71 and a circular perforated area 72 with openings 73 is shown, for example by drilling a housing of the heart assist system 1. The orifice diameter of the opening 73 in the perforated area 71 or 72 preferably has a value greater than 2 mm.

[0051] Figure 7The method steps for retrieving and modifying the time curve of an alarm signal are shown. As a first step S1, the claimed alarm method has the identification of an alarm event in a heart assist system. The identification can be implemented both by software and by hardware. In this case, for example, a voltage value or a current value applied to the system input is compared with a reference value, or a calculated value is compared with a reference value. The type of alarm event 43 is determined in conjunction with the type of comparison performed.

[0052] In a second method step S2 , the alarm priority 42 assigned to the alarm event 43 and the corresponding alarm signal time curve 45 are retrieved from the memory device 6 .

[0053] In a third method step S3, a predefined volume time curve is modulated onto the retrieved alarm signal time curve 45 as a function of the alarm priority 42 and the time period since the alarm event 43. The modification is carried out, for example, in such a way that the volume of the alarm signal time curve 45 is changed in accordance with a predefined on-off pattern that depends on the alarm priority 42. The on-off pattern means that the signal volume changes repeatedly from a value stored in the memory to zero and vice versa in a predefined manner. The time periods with a zero volume value are referred to as off phases, the other time periods as on phases. Furthermore, the volume of the alarm signal is changed in such a way that, during the on phase, the volume increases to a maximum value as the time since the recognition of the alarm event increases.

[0054] In a fourth method step S4 , the sound generating device 4 is controlled in such a way that the time curve of the warning signal modulated with the time curve of the volume is converted into an acoustic signal.

[0055] The present invention particularly includes the following aspects:

[0056] 1. A heart assist system (1) having a first control unit (2) and at least one first sound generating device (4), wherein the control unit (2) is designed to recognize and process events, in particular alarm events (43), and to process data and to perform control tasks in the heart assist system (1), characterized in that

[0057] - at least one storage device (6) is provided, the at least one storage device (6) being designed to store one or more predefined alarm signal time curves (45) and one or more alarm priorities (42), so that one alarm signal time curve (45) and one alarm priority (42) are respectively assigned to one or more predefined alarm events (43),

[0058] - at least one sound generation control device (8) is provided, which is designed to modulate a predefined volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve (45) correspondingly assigned to the alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) when an alarm event (43) is recognized, wherein the volume time curve depends on the alarm priority (42) correspondingly assigned to the respective alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) and the time period from the recognition of the alarm event (43),

[0059] - the aforementioned sound generation control device (8), which is designed to control one or more sound generation devices (4) when an alarm event (43) is recognized, so that the one or more sound generation devices (4) convert the aforementioned alarm signal time curve (45) modulated with the volume time curve into an acoustic signal.

[0060] 2. A heart assist system (1) according to aspect 1, wherein the heart assist system (1) comprises a heart pump (20), and wherein the control unit (2) controls the heart pump (20).

[0061] 3. A heart assist system (1) according to aspect 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one second electric sound generating device (4') is provided which can be controlled separately from the first sound generating device.

[0062] 4. The heart assist system (1) according to aspect 3, characterized in that the sound generating device (4, 4') comprises a broadband speaker and a narrowband speaker.

[0063] 5. The heart assist system (1) according to aspect 3, characterized in that the sound generating device (4, 4') comprises two broadband loudspeakers.

[0064] 6. A heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that at least one second control unit (8') is provided, wherein the at least one second control unit (8') is designed to detect a functional failure of the first sound generating control unit (8) and control at least one sound generating device (4, 4') so that the sound generating device (4, 4') generates a predefined sound signal.

[0065] 7. A heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the heart assist system (1) comprises a first voltage source (9), characterized in that a second voltage source (9') is provided, which is designed to supply voltage to at least one sound generating device (4') and the second control unit (8') when the first voltage source (9) fails.

[0066] 8. A heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterised in that at least one sound radiation device (11) is provided, which is designed to influence sound radiation.

[0067] 9. A heart assist system (1) according to aspect 8, wherein the heart assist system comprises a display (51), characterized in that an angle γ (63) between a main direction of the sound radiation (61) generated by the sound radiation device (11, 11') and a normal vector (63) of the display (51) pointing away from the display (51) has a value less than or equal to 90°.

[0068] 10. Heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that at least one sound influencing device (5, 5') is provided, which is designed to influence the weighting of sound frequencies.

[0069] 11. A heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterised in that a wireless interface (14) is provided, which is designed to exchange data with a wireless interface (31) of an external unit (30).

[0070] 12. The heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that the external unit (30) has an optical signaling unit (33).

[0071] 13. The heart assist system (1) according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that the external unit (30) has an acoustic signaling unit (34).

[0072] 14. A method for an alarm mode of a heart assist system, characterized in that the method comprises:

[0073] - Identify S1 alarm event 43,

[0074] - retrieving S2 from the storage device 6 the alarm priority 42 corresponding to the alarm event 43 and the alarm signal time curve 45 corresponding to the alarm event 43,

[0075] - modulating S3 a volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve 45, the volume time curve being dependent on the alarm priority 42 and the time period since the recognition of the alarm event 43,

[0076] - Controlling S4 the sound generating device 4 so that the alarm signal time curve 45 modulated with the volume time curve is converted into an acoustic signal.

Claims

1. A heart assist system (1), comprising a first control unit (2) and at least one first sound generating device (4), wherein: The control unit (2) is designed to recognize and process events and to process data and to perform control tasks in the heart assist system (1), characterized in that - at least one storage device (6) is provided, the at least one storage device (6) being designed to store one or more predefined alarm signal time curves (45) and one or more alarm priorities (42), so that one alarm signal time curve (45) and one alarm priority (42) are respectively assigned to one or more predefined alarm events (43), - at least one sound generation control device (8) is provided, the at least one sound generation control device (8) being designed to modulate a predefined volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve (45) correspondingly assigned to the alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) when an alarm event (43) is recognized, the volume time curve being dependent on the alarm priority (42) correspondingly assigned to the respective alarm event (43) in the storage device (6) and the time period from the recognition of the alarm event (43), - the aforementioned sound generation control device (8), which is designed to control one or more sound generation devices (4) when an alarm event (43) is recognized, so that the one or more sound generation devices (4) convert the aforementioned alarm signal time curve (45) modulated with the aforementioned volume time curve into an acoustic signal, - at least one second electrodynamic sound generating device (4') is provided, said at least one second electrodynamic sound generating device (4') being controllable separately from said first sound generating device, - at least one second control unit (8') is provided, which is designed to detect a functional failure of the sound generation control device (8) and control the second electric sound generation device (4') so that the second electric sound generation device (4') generates a predefined sound signal.

2. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The heart assist system (1) comprises a heart pump (20), and wherein the control unit (2) controls the heart pump (20).

3. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sound generating device (4, 4') comprises a broadband speaker and a narrowband speaker.

4. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The sound generating device (4, 4') comprises two broadband loudspeakers.

5. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The heart assist system (1) comprises a first voltage source (9), characterized in that a second voltage source (9') is provided, wherein the second voltage source (9') is designed to supply voltage to at least one electric sound generating device (4') and the second control unit (8') when the first voltage source (9) fails.

6. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least one sound radiating device (11) is provided, which is designed to influence sound radiation.

7. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 6, wherein: The heart assist system comprises a display (51), characterized in that an angle γ (63) between a main direction of the sound radiation (61) generated by the sound radiation device (11, 11') and a normal vector (63) of the display (51) pointing away from the display (51) has a value less than or equal to 90°.

8. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least one sound influencing device (5, 5') is provided, which is designed to influence the weighting of sound frequencies.

9. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that A wireless interface (14) is provided, which is designed to exchange data with a wireless interface (31) of an external unit (30).

10. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The external unit (30) has an optical signaling unit (33).

11. The heart assist system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The external unit (30) has an acoustic signaling unit (34).

12. A method for an alarm mode of a heart assist system, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: - recognizing ( S1 ) an alarm event ( 43 ) by means of a sound generation control device ( 8 ), - retrieving (S2) from the storage device (6) the alarm priority (42) corresponding to the alarm event (43) and the alarm signal time curve (45) corresponding to the alarm event (43) by means of the sound generation control device (8), - modulating (S3) a volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve (45) by means of a sound generation control device (8), the volume time curve being dependent on the alarm priority (42) and the time period from the recognition of the alarm event (43), - controlling (S4) the sound generating device (4) by means of the sound generating control device (8) so that the alarm signal time curve (45) modulated with the volume time curve is converted into a sound signal, - Detecting a functional failure of the sound generation control device (8) by means of a second control unit (8') and controlling the second electric sound generation device (4') so that the second electric sound generation device (4') generates a predefined sound signal.

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