Blood pump

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor controller, the motor comprising at least three motor winding units, where each motor winding unit is individually connected to a power source via a separate phase power line connected to a respective motor winding unit terminal. The motor controller includes a respective phase power supply line driving unit and a control unit for each motor winding unit. The phase power line driving units can be respectively connected with one of the motor winding units through corresponding phase power lines. The control unit is configured to control the phase power supply line driving unit to operate the motor. In a case where a fault in the motor winding units is defined by a short circuit between wires of two of the motor winding units, the control unit is configured to: detect the two faulty motor winding units based on a comparison of actual currents through the two faulty motor winding units; one of the two faulty motor winding units is determined as a faulty motor winding unit, and the corresponding phase power line driving unit is operated with the adjusted parameters.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a divisional application with application number 202210626123.0. The original application was a patent application with international application number PCT / EP2018 / 052797, international application date of February 5, 2018, Chinese national application number CN201880008332.0, entry into the Chinese national phase on July 24, 2019, and the invention title "blood pump". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of percutaneous ventricular assist devices (VADs). In particular, this invention relates to the circuit configuration of the motor winding unit in the motor of a VAD, such as a percutaneous blood pump, for example an intravascular rotary blood pump and its control, as well as a control device for such a VAD. Background Technology

[0003] VADs driven by a motor with motor windings are generally known. A specific example of a VAD, such as a percutaneous insertion blood pump, is a catheter-based rotary blood pump that is positioned directly through a blood vessel or implanted in the heart for hours or days to assist cardiac function until recovery.

[0004] US 5911685A discloses an exemplary intravascular rotary blood pump. However, there are other types of VADs that include motors.

[0005] The motor that drives the VAD is a crucial component of the VAD, providing the necessary assistance to the patient's heart. Motor failure can lead to serious problems, and even if the VAD can be replaced, such a replacement carries unnecessary risks. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The first objective of this invention is to provide an improved electric drive for VADs that reduces the risk of motor failure, and in particular, prevents the complete detachment of the motor.

[0007] Furthermore, a second objective of the present invention is to provide an improved control method and apparatus for the improved motor that achieves the first objective, for further operation of the motor in the event of a motor winding failure.

[0008] At least one of these objectives is achieved by the features of the respective independent claims. Further embodiments are defined in the respective dependent claims.

[0009] The core idea of ​​this invention is to use an electric motor to drive a transcatheter arterial blood pump (VAD), particularly a percutaneous transdermal blood pump, such as an intravascular rotary blood pump, wherein the motor windings are arranged to avoid any circuit interconnection between any one motor winding and the others. Preferably, all motor windings are operated individually via separate power lines. Advantageously, if any of the motor windings fails, the motor can still be operated by stopping the affected motor winding or adjusting the parameters of the affected motor winding. For example, if one of the phase power lines of any motor winding is interrupted, the motor can still be operated via the remaining motor windings. For example, if a short circuit exists between two specific windings, one of the affected windings can be stopped so that the motor can still be operated via the remaining motor windings. For example, if a short circuit exists within a specific winding (e.g., a turn-to-turn short circuit), the affected winding can be stopped or operated with adjusted parameters so that the motor can still be operated via the remaining motor windings. For example, if there is a fault current from a particular winding to the housing of a pump, the affected winding can be stopped so that the motor can still be operated through the remaining motor windings.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention provides a blood pump for percutaneous insertion, such as for intravascular applications. The blood pump includes a motor for driving the blood pump. The motor includes at least a tree-shaped motor winding unit. Each motor winding unit is arranged and configured to be connected to a power source via two respective independent phase power lines, one of which is connected to one of the terminals of the two motor winding units, and the other is connected to the other of the motor winding terminals.

[0011] A specific motor winding unit includes at least one corresponding motor winding, but is not limited to a single specific winding. That is, a motor winding unit may include more than one winding. In particular, a motor winding unit may include more than one motor winding connected in parallel with each other. For example, a motor winding unit may include a multi-layer winding in which more than one winding is implemented in different layers and connected in parallel to form the motor winding unit. For example, a winding may consist of two parallel-connected wires disposed in different layers and connected in parallel to form their respective motor winding units.

[0012] Preferably, the motor is a synchronous motor. Most preferably, the motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor, that is, it includes a rotor comprising permanent magnets.

[0013] Preferably, the motor includes at least three motor winding units, and each motor winding unit has two corresponding phase power lines. In one particular embodiment, the motor includes three motor winding units, wherein each of the terminals of a corresponding motor winding unit is connected to a corresponding phase power line.

[0014] A second aspect of the invention provides a motor controller for driving and controlling a motor of a blood pump according to a first aspect of the invention. The motor controller includes a corresponding switchable phase power line drive unit for each motor winding unit. Each switchable phase power line drive unit is connected to one of the motor winding units via corresponding two phase power lines.

[0015] Preferably, the phase power line drive unit is implemented by two half-bridge units, which can be switched to coordinately control the power supplied to each motor winding unit.

[0016] Preferably, the motor controller includes at least one of the following: a respective phase current measuring unit for measuring the actual value of the current through the respective motor winding unit; a total current measuring unit for measuring the actual value of the total current through all motor winding units; and a respective measuring unit configured to measure the respective induced anti-electromagnetic force, anti-EMF, and voltage of each motor winding unit when the respective motor winding unit is not driven, i.e., when the respective motor winding unit is disconnected from the power supply.

[0017] Preferably, the motor controller includes a control unit operatively connected to and controlling the phase power line drive unit, and configured to drive and control at least one of the following: the rotational speed of the motor, the rotational direction of the motor, and the torque generated by the motor.

[0018] Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect a fault in one of the motor winding units. Further, the control unit is configured to, upon detecting a faulty motor winding unit, disconnect the corresponding phase power supply drive unit of the faulty motor winding unit and further operate the motor via the remaining motor windings. Alternatively, the control unit may be configured to further drive the faulty motor winding unit with adjusted parameters and further operate the motor via all motor windings. That is, the blood pump can continue to operate only via the remaining motor winding units, or all motor winding units can continue to operate, in which case the faulty motor winding unit is operated with adjusted drive parameters.

[0019] Preferably, the motor winding unit is determined to be faulty under at least one of the following conditions:

[0020] (a) An interruption of at least one of the conductors of the motor winding unit or the corresponding phase power supply line of the motor winding unit.

[0021] (b) Current leakage from the motor winding unit to the motor housing;

[0022] (c) Short circuit between the turns of the motor winding unit.

[0023] Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect a faulty motor winding unit based on at least one of the following, i.e., one of the faults (a) to (c) above: a comparison of the actual current of the motor winding unit or multiple motor winding units and the actual voltage of the motor winding unit or multiple motor winding units.

[0024] Alternatively, a fault in the motor winding unit may include a short circuit between the wires of the two motor winding units, resulting in a fault in both motor winding units. Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect the two faulty motor winding units based on a comparison of the actual current passing through the two faulty motor winding units. Preferably, in the case of two faulty winding units, the control unit is configured to identify one of the two faulty motor winding units as the faulty motor winding unit, and the corresponding phase power line drive unit will be disconnected or operated with adjusted parameters.

[0025] A third aspect of the present invention provides a blood pump system comprising a blood pump according to a first aspect of the present invention and a motor controller according to a second aspect of the present invention.

[0026] A fourth aspect of the invention provides a control method for controlling the power supply to the motor winding units of a blood pump, preferably a blood pump according to the first aspect of the invention. The method includes: (i) detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units; (ii) in the case of detecting a faulty motor winding unit: in a first alternative, disconnecting the corresponding phase power line drive unit driving the faulty motor winding unit, and further operating the motor by controlling the phase power line drive units of the remaining motor windings; in a second alternative, adjusting the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding unit, and further operating the motor by controlling the phase power line drive units of all motor windings.

[0027] Preferably, the step of detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units includes, but is not limited to, detecting at least one of the following:

[0028] (a) Interruption of the conductors of the faulty motor winding unit or the corresponding phase power supply line of the faulty motor winding unit.

[0029] (b) Current leakage from the faulty motor winding unit to the motor housing;

[0030] (c) Short circuit between turns of the faulty motor winding unit; and

[0031] (d) Short circuit between the wires of two motor winding units.

[0032] Preferably, the step of detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units is based on at least one of the following: a comparison of the actual current through each motor winding unit, a comparison of the actual voltage drop at the motor winding unit, and a comparison of the actual current through the faulty motor winding unit.

[0033] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of at least three independent motor winding units in a motor for driving a percutaneous blood pump. Each motor winding unit is arranged and configured to be connected to a power source via two separate phase power lines, which are connected to one of the two motor winding unit terminals of the respective motor winding unit.

[0034] Finally, regarding the blood pump of the first aspect of the invention, the motor controller of the second aspect of the invention, the blood pump system of the third aspect of the invention, the control method of the fourth aspect of the invention, or any application of the fifth aspect of the invention, in any case, the motor is preferably an integral component of the blood pump. Since the blood pump is configured for complete percutaneous insertion into the patient's body, the motor, as a component of the blood pump, is also inserted when the blood pump is inserted into the patient's body. Conversely, the motor controller for providing electrical power and controlling the motor is preferably located outside the patient's body. The connection portion solely for providing electrical power and controlling the operation of the motor will enter the patient's body via the skin through an external catheter to reach the blood pump and, correspondingly, the motor. Attached Figure Description

[0035] In the following description, the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein,

[0036] Figure 1 An example of a motor-driven VAD for percutaneous insertion is shown.

[0037] Figure 2 Circuit configurations for three motor winding units are shown: (a) a delta configuration, (b) a star or Y configuration, and (c) a configuration with open terminals.

[0038] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the principle of a motor with three motor winding units in a star configuration driven by modulated pulses through corresponding switches between the three power lines of the power supply and the motor winding unit.

[0039] Figure 4 A particular embodiment of a novel configuration of the motor winding unit in the motor of a percutaneous blood pump proposed herein is shown, and the basic configuration of the motor drive stage is further illustrated by means of a simplified schematic circuit diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Figure 1 An example of a VAD for percutaneous insertion is shown, which is driven by a motor including a corresponding motor winding unit. The VAD is a miniature axial-flow rotary blood pump 50, and more particularly a catheter-based miniature axial-flow rotary blood pump (hereinafter referred to as "blood pump 50") inserted percutaneously into a patient's heart through a patient's blood vessel. Such blood pumps are known from, for example, US 5911685A.

[0041] The blood pump 50 is based on the catheter 10, which can be temporarily introduced into the ventricles of a patient's heart via a blood vessel. In addition to the catheter 10, the blood pump 50 includes a pumping device fixed to the end of the catheter conduit 20. The rotary pumping device includes a motor 51 and a pump section 52 located axially therefrom. A flow cannula 53 is connected to the pump section 52 at one end, extends from the pump section 52, and has an inflow cage 54 located at its other end. The inflow cage 54 is attached with a flexible and bendable tip 55. The pump section 52 includes a pump housing with an outlet orifice 56. Further, the pumping device includes a drive shaft 57 extending from the motor 51 into the pump housing of the pump section 52. The drive shaft 57 drives an impeller 58 as a thrust element. During operation of the blood pump 50, blood can be drawn in through the inflow cage 54 and discharged through the outlet orifice 56 via the rotating impeller 58 driven by the motor 50 via the drive shaft 57.

[0042] The conduit 20 via conduit 10 carries three lines: two signal lines 28A and 28B, and a power line 29 for supplying power to the motor 51 of the pumping device. Signal lines 28A and 28B and power line 29 are attached at their proximal ends to a control device (not shown) for controlling the pumping device. Signal lines 28A and 28B are part of a blood pressure sensor, which has corresponding sensor heads 30 and 60, respectively. Power line 29 includes separate phase power lines for supplying power to each motor winding unit of the motor 51 in the motor section. The motor 51 is preferably a synchronous motor. In an exemplary configuration, the motor includes three motor winding units for driving a rotor (not shown) coupled to a drive shaft 57. The rotor may include at least one magnetic field winding. Alternatively, the rotor may include permanent magnets, thus constituting a permanent magnet excitation synchronous motor. In a particular embodiment, a particular motor winding unit includes two windings connected in parallel, arranged in different layers.

[0043] Blood pump 50 is a miniature axial-flow rotary blood pump, where "miniature" indicates that its size is small enough to allow the blood pump to be percutaneously inserted into the ventricle of the heart via a blood vessel leading to the ventricle. This also defines blood pump 50 as an "intravascular" blood pump for percutaneous insertion. "Axial-flow" indicates that the motor 51 used to drive the pump section 52 is arranged in an axial configuration. "Rotary" means that the pump function is based on the rotational operation of a thrust element, such as an impeller, driven by the rotary motor 51.

[0044] Preferably, such as Figure 1 As shown, motor 51 is a component of blood pump 50, which is configured for complete percutaneous insertion into the patient's body. Typically, blood pump 50 is inserted into the patient's body through a blood vessel, for example, leading to the ventricle of the patient's heart. As described above, blood pump 50 is based on catheter 10, through which insertion of blood pump 50 through a blood vessel can be performed, and power line 29 can pass through catheter 10 to provide electrical power to motor 51 and control motor 51. That is, a motor controller (e.g., [missing information]) provides electrical power to motor 51 and controls motor 51. Figure 4 In this case, the 100 section is located outside the patient's body. Therefore, only the connection (e.g., 29) used to supply power to the motor and control the operation of the motor 51 passes through the catheter 10. This is completely different from a blood pump driven via a rotary drive line passing through the catheter, so that only the pump portion needs to be inserted into the patient's body while the drive motor can be located outside the patient's body. In this case, it is easier to replace a faulty motor.

[0045] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The circuit configuration of the motor 51 of the blood pump 50. For example, the motor includes three motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw. Figure 2 In (a), the motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected in a delta circuit configuration. Figure 2 In (b), the motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected in a star or Y-shaped circuit configuration.

[0046] Figure 2 (c) illustrates a configuration of motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw with open terminals, commonly referred to as an "open-terminal winding" configuration. The characteristic of this configuration is that, in fact, there is no intended circuit interconnection between any of the tree-shaped motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw and the other two motor winding units. In this configuration, any one of the tree-shaped motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw can be powered independently of the other motor winding units.

[0047] It is worth noting that a specific motor winding unit includes at least one specific motor winding, but is not limited to one winding. A motor winding unit may include more than one motor winding. In particular, a motor winding unit may include more than one motor winding connected in parallel to form the motor winding unit. For example, a motor winding unit may consist of two parallel-connected terminals. Different windings may be arranged in different layers and may be connected in parallel at their respective terminals to form the terminals of the motor winding unit.

[0048] Figure 3 The conventional drive of motor 51-1 is shown, which has a position Figure 2 (b) The three motor winding units Lu, Lv, Lw are conventionally driven by control pulses of corresponding switches Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, Sw1 and Sw2, which are respectively connected to one of two power nodes Us and Ug and respectively connected to only one of the three power lines L1, L2, L3 supplying a corresponding motor winding unit Lu, Lv, Lw.

[0049] Motor 51-1 includes a motor winding configuration as known in a miniature axial-flow rotary blood pump as described in US 5911685A. Three motor winding units Lu, Lv, Lw are connected together at a star node SN with one of their terminals, while the other terminal of each motor winding unit is connected via a corresponding power line L1, L2, L3 to the corresponding intermediate nodes MN1, MN2, MN3 of the three half-bridges H1, H2, H3. Each of the three half-bridges H1, H2, H3 includes two semiconductor switches, such as power MOSFETs, illustrated as switches Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2. Each of the three half-bridges H1, H2, H3 defines a respective phase power line drive unit controlled by control unit 1. The three half-bridges H1, H2, H3, i.e., the phase power line drive units, can be integrated or implemented by a single drive unit DU.

[0050] Each of the half-bridges H1, H2, and H3 is controlled by a control unit 1, which is configured to control the respective switches Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2 via pulse width modulation, such that the waveform of the voltage driving a particular motor winding unit Lu, Lv, and Lw has a 120° phase difference relative to any one of the waveforms of the respective voltages driving the other two motor windings.

[0051] Half-bridges H1, H2, and H3 are respectively connected to control unit 1, which also provides a power supply voltage Us and a reference voltage Ug, such as ground. The individual switches in one of the half-bridges H1, H2, and H3 are controlled by... Figure 3 The arrows from control unit 1 to their respective switches Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, Sw1 and Sw2 are shown. By switching the respective half-bridges H1, H2, and H3, the current supplied to the respective motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw is switched, resulting in a corresponding change in the magnetic field generated by the specific motor winding unit. Therefore, the motor winding unit generates a rotating magnetic field for moving the rotor (not shown) of motor 51-1. The rotor, containing the excitation magnetic field winding, is thus forced to rotate.

[0052] The corresponding control of switches Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, Sw1 and Sw2 in the half-bridge H1, H2, and H3 (phase power line drive units) allows control of the rotation direction and speed of motor 51-1, as well as the torque generated by motor 51-1. For example, in Figure 1 In the known blood pump 50 shown, the synchronous motor 51, which has three motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw, operates in a star configuration. Therefore, Figure 1 The power lines 29 shown passing through the conduit 20 include three phase power lines L1, L2 and L3 for providing power to their respective motor winding units.

[0053] Figure 4 This paper presents the proposed... Figure 1 This is a specific embodiment of a new configuration of the motor winding unit in the motor 51-2 of the percutaneous blood pump shown. Further, Figure 4 The basic configuration of the drive stage of motor 51-2 is shown in a simplified, schematic circuit diagram.

[0054] As mentioned above and as Figure 1 As shown, motor 51-2 is a component of blood pump 50. Therefore, motor 51-2 is also inserted percutaneously into the patient's body along with blood pump 50. As also described above, blood pump 50 is based on catheter 10, through which insertion of blood pump 50 into a blood vessel is performed, and power line 29 can be guided through catheter 10 to provide electrical power to and control motor 51-2. Power line 29 includes six separate, independent phase power lines Lw1, Lv1, and Lu1, Lw2, Lv2, and Lu2 (discussed in more detail below). The motor controller 100, which provides electrical power to and controls motor 51-2, is located outside the patient's body. In other words, the connection that provides electrical power to the motor and controls the operation of motor 51-2 passes through catheter 10.

[0055] Motor 51-2 includes three motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw. Note that more than three motor winding units can also be used. Each motor winding unit Lu, Lv, and Lw is connected to a separate and independent phase power line Lw1, Lv1, and Lu1, Lw2, Lv2, and LU2 at its respective two motor winding unit terminals LwE1 and LwE2, LvE1 and LvE2, and LuE1 and LuE2. Each of the two phase power lines of a specific motor winding unit Lu, Lv, and Lw is connected to a corresponding half-bridge circuit DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, and DL3. For example... Figure 3 As described in the connection, each half-bridge circuit DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, DL3 includes two corresponding semiconductor switches SwH1 and SwH2, SvH1 and SvH2, SuH1 and SuH2, SwL1 and SwL2, SvL1 and SvL2, SuL1 and SuL2.

[0056] For example, for a motor winding unit Lw, the first winding unit terminal LwE1 is connected to the intermediate node MNH1 of the half-bridge circuit DH1 via the first phase power line Lw1, while the second winding terminal LwE2 is connected to the intermediate node MNL1 of the corresponding second half-bridge circuit DL1 via the second phase power line Lw2. Each of the two half-bridge circuits DH1 and DL1 includes two respective semiconductor switches SwH1 and SwH2, SwL1 and SwL2. Together, the two half-bridge circuits DH1 and DL1 define the phase power line drive unit for the motor winding unit Lw. This also applies accordingly to other half-bridge and motor winding units.

[0057] and Figure 3 Compared to the configuration shown, Figure 4 The motor 51-2 is driven and controlled by a motor controller 100, which in principle includes two drive units DU1 and DU2. Each of the two drive units DU1 and DU2 is connected to the respective first winding unit terminals of the motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw. In a particular implementation, for example, the drive units DU1 and DU2 may be implemented by an integrated circuit (IC) such as the DRV8312 three-phase pulse width modulation drive unit from Texas Instruments.

[0058] To measure the actual currents Iv, Iu, and Iw through a specific motor winding unit Lw, Lv, and Lu, drive units DU1 and DU2 are connected to their respective current measuring units IM1, IM2, and IM3, which are in principle connected in series with the corresponding motor winding units Lw, Lv, and Lu. For example, the actual current through a specific motor winding unit Lw, Lv, and Lu can be determined as the voltage drop across a current sensing element such as a shunt resistor. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the current measurement units IM1, IM2, and IM3 are implemented by corresponding shunt resistors Rw, Rv, and Ru.

[0059] In this configuration, the motor controller 100 includes a measuring unit ITM for the total current flowing through all motor winding units Lw, Lv, and Lu. The total current measuring unit ITM includes a current sensing element and is connected in series with a common node of all phase power lines, which are in principle connected in parallel – each serving as a motor winding unit itself. The current sensing unit ITM for the total current is implemented by a shunt resistor Rtotal, whose voltage drop can be measured and is proportional to the total current Itotal.

[0060] Furthermore, the control unit 120 includes sensing inputs for receiving the actual currents Iv, Iu, Iw of each individual motor winding unit Lw, Lv, Lu, and the measured value of the total current Itotal through all motor winding units Lw, Lv, Lu. Furthermore, the control unit 120 is operatively connected to the power supply unit 110 to receive the actual voltage provided via the drive units DU1, DU2.

[0061] Furthermore, when the respective motor winding units are not currently driven, i.e., when any switch of the corresponding half-bridge is open, corresponding voltage measurements are also performed at the respective intermediate nodes MNH1, MNH2 and MNH3 in drive unit DU1 and / or MNL1, MNK2 and MNL3 in drive unit DU2, in order to measure the induced anti-electromagnetic force, CEMF and voltage at each motor winding unit.

[0062] Furthermore, the output control line extends from the control unit 120 to the respective semiconductor switches of the half-bridge DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, DL3 for control.

[0063] It is worth noting that the current sensing line and the control line are only... Figure 4 The diagram is shown schematically to keep it simple; for example, the arrow from the current measuring unit IM1 with the shunt resistor Rw to the control unit 120 indicates that the measured value of the actual current Iw in the motor winding Lw is input to the control unit 120. Similarly, the arrow from the control unit 120 to the semiconductor switch SwL2 of the half-bridge DL1 in the drive unit DU2 indicates that the operation of switch SwL2 is controlled by the control unit 120, as are the other switches.

[0064] In principle, the control of the rotation direction, rotation speed, and generated motor torque of motor 51-2 is similar to... Figure 3 The configuration shown is shown in the figure. However, the configuration presented here offers some specific advantages.

[0065] First, the control unit 120 is configured to detect a fault in any of the motor winding units Lu, Lv, and Lw. Based on the detected faulty motor winding unit, the control unit 120 is configured to disconnect the corresponding half-bridges DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, and DL3 connected to the faulty motor winding unit once a fault is detected in a specific motor winding unit. Due to the individual control of each motor winding unit Lu, Lv, and Lw, the motor 51-2 can be further controlled and operated, either by controlling only the remaining motor winding units, particularly by controlling the corresponding remaining half-bridges, or by controlling and operating all motor winding units, in which case the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding unit are adjusted.

[0066] Advantageously, a faulty motor winding unit can be identified by detecting at least one of the following circuit faults.

[0067] For example, there may be an interruption in the wires of a motor winding unit or in the corresponding phase power line of a motor winding unit, which corresponds to a fault in a specific motor winding unit.

[0068] For example, due to an insulation fault in one of the motor winding units, there may be current leakage between the motor windings and the housing of motor 51-2.

[0069] For example, a short circuit may exist between the turns of a specific motor winding unit, which reduces the inductance of the corresponding motor winding unit and also limits the faulty motor winding unit.

[0070] In all of the aforementioned fault conditions, the control unit 120 is configured to detect the respective faulty motor winding unit based on a comparison of the actual current through the motor winding unit and / or the actual voltage drop at the motor winding unit, which are measured separately.

[0071] Furthermore, for example, a fault in a motor winding unit can be defined by a short circuit between the wires of two motor winding units. The control unit 120 is also configured to detect such two faulty motor winding units, for example, based on a comparison of the actual current flowing through the motor winding units. In this fault condition, the control unit 120 is configured to identify one of the two faulty motor winding units as the faulty motor winding unit; therefore, the corresponding half-bridges DH1 and DL1, DH2 and DL2, or DH3 and DL3 will be disconnected, and / or the corresponding half-bridges will be operated with adjusted parameters. Thus, as described above, the motor 51-2 can be further operated using the remaining motor units.

[0072] In cases where a blood pump is used for subcutaneous insertion into the ventricle of the heart, the fault-tolerant configuration and operation of the motor winding unit of the motor driving the blood pump, as described herein, reduce the risk of complete dislodgement of the blood pump to the patient. Furthermore, it also reduces the risks associated with removing the blood pump from the patient to reposition a new one.

[0073] Finally, this disclosure proposes a novel blood pump for percutaneous insertion and / or intravascular application, the blood pump including a motor for driving the blood pump, the motor including at least three motor winding units, wherein each motor winding unit is individually connected to a power source via two separate phase power lines connected to the terminals of its respective motor winding unit.

[0074] Furthermore, this disclosure proposes a motor controller for driving and controlling a motor of a blood pump, wherein the motor controller includes a corresponding phase power line drive unit for each motor winding unit of the motor of the blood pump, wherein the phase power line drive unit is connected to the corresponding motor winding unit via corresponding two phase power lines.

[0075] Furthermore, this disclosure proposes a corresponding blood pump system including a blood pump and a motor controller.

[0076] Furthermore, this disclosure proposes a corresponding control method for controlling the power supply of a motor winding unit of a blood pump, wherein the method includes: detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units, and, upon detecting a faulty motor winding unit, disconnecting the corresponding phase power line drive unit of the faulty motor winding unit, and further operating the motor by controlling the phase power line drive units of the remaining motor windings, or alternatively further operating all motor winding units wherein the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding unit are adjusted drive parameters.

[0077] Finally, this disclosure proposes an application of at least three independent motor windings in a motor for driving a blood pump for percutaneous insertion and / or intravascular applications. These motor windings are individually connected to a respective power source via two separate phase power lines, which are connected to the respective motor winding terminals of one of the at least three motor windings.

Claims

1. A motor controller (100) for driving and controlling a motor (51; 51-2) for a percutaneous blood pump (50), the blood pump (50) including a motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw) is arranged and configured via connections to respective motor winding unit terminals (LuE1, LuE2); Separate phase power lines (Lu1, Lu2) of LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1 and Lw2 are individually connected to the power supply (110). The motor controller (100) includes: A corresponding phase power line drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) is provided for each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein the phase power line drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) can be connected to one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) respectively via a corresponding phase power line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2), and A control unit (120) configured to control the phase power line drive units (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the motors (51; 51-2). Wherein, in the case that the fault in the motor winding unit is limited by a short circuit between the wires of two of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), the control unit (120) is configured as follows: The two faulty motor winding units are detected by comparing the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) of the two faulty motor winding units; and Once one of the two faulty motor winding units is identified as the faulty motor winding unit, the corresponding phase power line drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) will be operated with adjusted parameters.

2. The motor controller (100) according to claim 1, in, Each of the phase power line drive units (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) is implemented by two corresponding half-bridge units configured to be switchable to coordinately control the power supplied to the corresponding motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw).

3. The motor controller (100) according to claim 1 or 2 further comprises at least one of the following: Each phase current measuring unit (Ru, Rv, Rw) is used to measure the actual value of the current (Iu, Iv, Iw) passing through the corresponding motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw); A total current measurement unit (Rtotal) is used to measure the actual value of the total current (Itotal) passing through all motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw); and Each of the respective measuring units is configured to measure the respective induced back electromagnetic force and back electromotive force of the undriven motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw).

4. The motor controller (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The control unit (120) is configured to control the phase power line drive units (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the motor (51; 51-2) to drive and control at least one of the rotational speed of the motor (51; 51-2), the rotational direction of the motor (51), and the torque generated by the motor (51; 51-2).

5. The motor controller (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The motor (51; 51-2) is an integral part of the blood pump (50), which is configured to be inserted completely percutaneously into the patient's body such that when the blood pump (50) is inserted, the motor controller (100) for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is located outside the patient's body, and the connection for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is connected to the blood pump (50) via a catheter (10).

6. A blood pump system comprising a motor controller (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a blood pump (50) for percutaneous insertion, the blood pump (50) comprising a motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the motor (51; 51-2) comprising at least three motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw) is arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source (110) via separate phase power lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to the respective motor winding unit terminals (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2).

7. The blood pump system according to claim 6, in, The motors (51; 51-2) are permanent magnet synchronous motors.

8. The blood pump system according to claim 6 or 7, in, The motor (51; 51-2) includes three motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw) is connected to the corresponding phase power line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2).

9. The blood pump system according to any one of claims 6-8, in, The motor (51; 51-2) is an integral part of the blood pump (50), which is configured to be inserted completely percutaneously into the patient's body such that when the blood pump (50) is inserted, the motor controller (100) for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is located outside the patient's body, and the connection for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is connected to the blood pump (50) via a catheter (10).

10. A control method for controlling the power supply of a motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw) for a percutaneous blood pump (50), said control method being implemented by a motor controller (100) that drives and controls the blood pump (50), The blood pump (50) includes a motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw) is arranged and configured via a connection to a respective motor winding unit terminal (LuE1, LuE2). Separate phase power lines (Lu1, Lu2) of LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1 and Lw2 are individually connected to the power supply (110). The motor controller (100) includes: A corresponding phase power line drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) is provided for each motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein the phase power line drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) can be connected to one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) respectively via a corresponding phase power line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2), and A control unit (120) configured to control the phase power line drive units (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the motors (51; 51-2). The method is characterized by comprising: (i) Detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein the fault in the motor winding unit is defined by a short circuit between the wires of two of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), and the two faulty motor winding units are detected based on a comparison of the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) through the two faulty motor winding units. (ii) Identify one of the two faulty motor winding units as the faulty motor winding unit; and (iii) Adjust the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding unit and further operate the motor (51; 51-2) through all motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw).

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein, The motor (51; 51-2) is an integral part of the blood pump (50), which is configured to be inserted completely percutaneously into the patient's body such that when the blood pump (50) is inserted, the motor controller (100) for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is located outside the patient's body, and the connection for providing electrical power to the motor (51; 51-2) and controlling the operation of the motor (51; 51-2) is connected to the blood pump (50) via a catheter (10).

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