blood pump

Abstract

To reduce the risk of a failure of an electric motor for driving a blood pump or to cope with the failure of the electric motor.SOLUTION: Provided is a blood pump used for percutaneous insertion into a heart's ventricle including an electric motor for driving the blood pump. The electric motor includes at least three motor winding units. Each motor winding unit is individually connectable to a power supply via two separate phase supply lines connected to respective motor winding unit terminals. Provided is a motor controller for driving and controlling the electric motor of the blood pump, the motor controller including corresponding phase supply line driving units for the respective motor winding units of the electric motor of the blood pump. The phase supply line driving units are connected to the corresponding motor winding units via the two corresponding phase supply lines.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of percutaneously inserted ventricular assist devices (VADs). In particular, the present invention relates to the circuitry of motor windings in the motor of a percutaneously insertable blood pump, such as an intravascular rotary blood pump, of a VAD, and to the control and controller of such a VAD. [Background technology]

[0002] VADs that are driven by an electric motor having motor windings are commonly known. One particular example of a VAD, such as a percutaneously insertable blood pump, is a catheter-based rotary blood pump that is configured to be placed or implanted directly into the heart through a blood vessel for hours or days to assist cardiac function until recovery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,911,685A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An exemplary intravascular rotary blood pump is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,911,685 A. However, other types of VADs exist that include electric motors.

[0005] The electric motor that powers a VAD is a critical component of the VAD's function, providing the necessary support to the patient's heart. Motor failure can cause serious problems, and even if a VAD is replaceable, such replacement poses unnecessary risks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first object of the present invention is to provide an improved electric drive system for a VAD that reduces the risk of electric motor failure and in particular avoids complete shutdown of the electric motor.

[0007] A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved control method and apparatus for an improved electric motor that achieves the first object so that the electric motor continues to operate even in the event of a motor winding failure.

[0008] At least one of the above objects is achieved by the features of each independent claim. Further embodiments are defined by the respective dependent claims.

[0009] The core idea of ​​the present invention is to use an electric motor, particularly a percutaneously insertable blood pump such as an intravascular rotary blood pump, to drive a VAD, in which the motor windings are configured in a circuit configuration that prevents any circuit interconnections between the motor windings. Preferably, all motor windings operate independently via separate supply lines. An advantageous feature of the electric motor is that even if one of the motor windings fails, the electric motor can continue to operate by either removing the affected motor winding from operation or adjusting the parameters of the affected motor winding before operating. For example, even if one of the phase supplies to one of the motor windings is broken, the electric motor can continue to operate using the remaining motor windings. For example, if a short circuit occurs between two specific windings, the affected winding can be removed from operation and the electric motor can continue to operate using the remaining motor windings. For example, if a short circuit occurs within a specific winding (e.g., an inter-turn short circuit), the affected winding can be removed from operation or adjusted the parameters before operating, and the electric motor can continue to operate using the remaining motor windings. For example, if a fault current flows from a particular winding to the pump housing, the affected winding can be taken out of operation and the electric motor can continue to operate with the remaining motor windings.

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention provides a blood pump for use in percutaneous insertion, e.g., intravascular application. The blood pump includes an electric motor for driving the blood pump. The electric motor includes at least three motor windings. Each motor winding is arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source via two corresponding separate phase supply wires, one connected to one of two motor winding ends and the other connected to the other of the motor winding ends.

[0011] A particular motor winding section includes at least one corresponding motor winding, but is not limited to a single specific winding. That is, a motor winding section may include multiple windings. In particular, a single motor winding section may include multiple motor windings connected in parallel to each other. For example, a single motor winding section may include multi-layer windings, with multiple windings mounted on different layers and connected in parallel to form the motor winding section. For example, a single winding may include two parallel-connected windings arranged on different layers and connected in parallel to form each motor winding section.

[0012] Preferably the electric motor is a synchronous motor. Most preferably the motor is a permanent magnet excited synchronous motor, i.e. a motor including a rotor containing permanent magnets.

[0013] Preferably, the electric motor includes at least three motor windings and two corresponding phase supply wires for each motor winding. In a specific embodiment, the electric motor includes three motor windings, with each corresponding motor winding end connected to a corresponding phase supply wire.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention provides a motor controller for driving and controlling an electric motor of a blood pump according to the first aspect of the present invention, the motor controller including switchable phase supply line drivers corresponding to each of the motor windings, each switchable phase supply line driver being connected to one of the motor windings via a corresponding pair of phase supply lines.

[0015] Preferably, the phase supply line drivers are implemented with two half-bridge sections that can be switched to coordinate the power supplied to each motor winding.

[0016] Preferably, the motor controller comprises at least one of a respective phase current measuring unit for measuring the actual value of the current flowing through the corresponding motor winding, a total current measuring unit for measuring the actual value of the total current flowing through all the motor windings, and a respective measuring unit configured to measure a respective induced back electromagnetic force BEMF, also called back electromotive force CEMF, i.e. the voltage of each motor winding at the moment when the respective motor winding is not driven, in other words when the respective motor winding is disconnected from the power supply.

[0017] Preferably, the motor controller includes a control unit operatively connected to the phase supply line driver for controlling the driver and configured to drive and control at least one of the speed of rotation of the electric motor, the direction of rotation of the electric motor, and the torque generated by the electric motor.

[0018] Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect a failure of one of the motor windings. Furthermore, when the control unit detects a faulty motor winding, the control unit is configured to switch off the phase supply line driver corresponding to the faulty motor winding and continue to operate the electric motor with the remaining motor windings. Alternatively, the control unit may be configured to continue to drive the faulty motor winding after adjusting parameters and continue to operate the electric motor with all motor windings. That is, the blood pump can be kept in operation with the remaining motor windings alone, or with all motor windings with the faulty motor winding operated after adjusting drive parameters.

[0019] Preferably, a motor winding is determined to be defective when: (a) a break in at least one of the conductors of the motor winding or the corresponding phase supply conductor of the motor winding; (b) leakage current from the motor windings to the electric motor housing; (c) Short circuit between windings in the motor winding section This is the case when at least one of the following occurs.

[0020] Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect a faulty motor winding, i.e. one of the faults (a) to (c) above, based on at least one of a comparison of the actual current flowing through the motor winding or windings, and the actual voltage of the motor winding or windings.

[0021] Alternatively, the motor winding fault may include a short circuit between the conductors of two motor windings, resulting in two motor winding failures. Preferably, the control unit is configured to detect two faulty motor windings based on a comparison of actual currents flowing through the two faulty motor windings. Preferably, if there are two such faulty windings, the control unit is configured to determine that one of the two faulty motor windings is the faulty motor winding for which the corresponding phase supply line driver should be switched off or operated with parameters adjusted.

[0022] A third aspect of the present invention provides a blood pump system including a blood pump according to the first aspect of the present invention and a motor controller according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0023] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling power supply to motor windings of a blood pump preferably according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of (i) detecting a fault in one of a plurality of motor windings, and (ii) upon detection of a faulty motor winding, in a first alternative, switching off a corresponding phase supply line driver driving the faulty motor winding and continuing to operate the electric motor by controlling the phase supply line drivers of the remaining motor windings, and in a second alternative, adjusting the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding and then continuing to operate the electric motor by controlling the phase supply line drivers of all motor windings.

[0024] Preferably, the step of detecting a fault in one of the plurality of motor windings comprises: (a) A broken conductor in a defective motor winding or in the corresponding phase supply wire of a defective motor winding; (b) Electrical leakage from a defective motor winding to the electric motor housing; (c) Short circuit between windings of defective motor windings, (d) detecting a short circuit between two conductors of the motor windings, but is not limited to this.

[0025] Preferably, the step of detecting a fault in one of the plurality of motor windings is based on at least one of comparing the actual currents flowing through each of the plurality of motor windings, the actual voltage drops across the plurality of motor windings, and comparing the actual currents flowing through the plurality of faulty motor windings.

[0026] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of at least three independent motor windings in an electric motor for driving a blood pump for percutaneous insertion, each motor winding arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source via two separate corresponding phase supply wires connected to each one of the two motor winding ends of the corresponding motor winding.

[0027] Finally, with regard to the blood pump according to the first aspect of the present invention, the motor controller according to the second aspect of the present invention, the blood pump system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the control method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, or the use according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in each case the electric motor is preferably an integral element of the blood pump. Since the blood pump is configured to be completely inserted percutaneously into the patient's body, when the blood pump is inserted into the patient, the electric motor, as an integral part of the blood pump, is likewise inserted. The motor controller, which supplies and controls power to the electric motor, is then preferably located outside the patient's body. Only the connections for supplying power to the electric motor and controlling its operation are passed from outside the patient's body percutaneously into the patient's body through a catheter to the blood pump and corresponding electric motor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a percutaneously inserted VAD driven by an electric motor. [Figure 2] 1A-1C are circuit diagrams of three motor winding sections having (a) a delta configuration, (b) a star or wye configuration, and (c) an open-ended configuration. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of pulse driving an electric motor having three motor windings in a star configuration while modulating and controlling the corresponding switches between the power supply and the three power lines of the motor windings. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic circuit diagram illustrating one particular embodiment of the novel configuration proposed herein for the motor windings of an electric motor for a blood pump intended for percutaneous insertion, and further illustrating the basic configuration of the drive stage of the electric motor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] 1 shows an example of a percutaneously inserted VAD driven by an electric motor with corresponding motor windings. The VAD is a micro-axial rotary blood pump 50, specifically a catheter-based micro-axial rotary blood pump (hereinafter simply referred to as "blood pump 50") that is percutaneously inserted through the patient's blood vessels into the patient's heart. Such a blood pump is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,685 A.

[0030] The blood pump 50 utilizes a catheter 10 that can temporarily guide the blood pump 50 through a blood vessel into a chamber of the patient's heart. In addition to the catheter 10, the blood pump 50 includes a pumping device fixed to the end of the catheter tube 20. The rotary pumping device includes an electric motor 51 and a pump section 52 located at an axial distance from the electric motor 51. A blood supply cannula 53 is connected at one end to the pump section 52 and has an inflow cage 54 extending from the pump section 52 and located at the other end. A soft, flexible tip 55 is attached to the inflow cage 54. The pump section 52 includes a pump vessel having an outflow opening 56. The pumping device further includes a drive shaft 57 that protrudes from the electric motor 51 into the pump housing of the pump section 52. The drive shaft 57 drives an impeller 58 as a pressing element. During operation of the blood pump 50 , blood can be drawn through the inflow cage 54 and expelled through the outflow opening 56 by a rotating impeller 58 driven by the electric motor 50 via a drive shaft 57 .

[0031] Three wires extend through the catheter tube 20 of the catheter 10: two signal wires 28A and 28B, and a power supply wire 29 that supplies power to the electric motor 51 of the pumping device. The proximal ends of the signal wires 28A, 28B, and the power supply wire 29 are attached to a controller (not shown) for controlling the pumping device. The signal wires 28A and 28B are part of the blood pressure sensor with corresponding sensor heads 30 and 60, respectively. The power supply wire 29 includes separate phase supply wires that supply power to each motor winding of the electric motor 51 of the motor section. The electric motor 51 is preferably a synchronous motor. In one exemplary configuration, the electric motor includes three motor windings that drive a rotor (not shown) coupled to a drive shaft 57. The rotor may include at least one field winding. Alternatively, the rotor may include a permanent magnet, resulting in a permanent magnet excited synchronous motor. In one specific embodiment, a particular motor winding includes two parallel-connected windings arranged in different layers and connected in parallel.

[0032] The blood pump 50 is a micro-axial rotary blood pump, where "micro" indicates a size small enough to allow the blood pump to be inserted percutaneously into the ventricles of the heart via the blood vessels leading to the ventricles. This also defines the blood pump 50 as an "intravascular" blood pump for percutaneous insertion. "Axial" indicates that the arrangement of the electric motor 51 driving the pumping portion 52 is arranged in an axial configuration. "Rotary" means that the pumping function is based on the rotational action of a thrust element, e.g., an impeller, driven by the rotary electric motor 51.

[0033] Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 1 , the electric motor 51 is a component of the blood pump 50 that is configured to be inserted entirely percutaneously into a patient's body. Typically, the blood pump 50 is inserted into the patient's body via a blood vessel leading to, for example, a chamber of the patient's heart. As described above, the blood pump 50 utilizes a catheter 10 that allows insertion of the blood pump 50 through a blood vessel and through which a power supply line 29 can be routed to power and control the electric motor 51. That is, the motor controller (e.g., 100 in FIG. 4 ) that powers and controls the electric motor 51 is located outside the patient's body. Thus, only the connections (e.g., 29) that power and control the operation of the motor 51 extend through the catheter 10. This is distinct from blood pumps that are driven via rotary drive leads routed through a catheter such that only the pump portion is inserted into the patient's body, while the drive electric motor can be outside the patient's body. This allows for easier replacement of a faulty electric motor.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the circuit configurations of the electric motor 51 of the blood pump 50 of FIG. 1. For example, the electric motor includes three motor windings Lu, Lv, and Lw. In FIG. 2(a), the motor windings Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected in a delta circuit configuration. In FIG. 2(b), the motor windings Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected in a star or wye circuit configuration.

[0035] Figure 2(c) shows motor winding sections Lu, Lv, and Lw in a configuration with open wiring ends, commonly referred to as an "open-end winding" configuration. The configuration shown is characterized by the fact that none of the three motor winding sections Lu, Lv, and Lw are intended to have circuit interconnections with any two other motor winding sections. In this configuration, any of the three motor winding sections Lu, Lv, and Lw can be powered independently from the other motor winding sections.

[0036] It should be noted that a particular motor winding section includes at least one particular motor winding, but is not limited to a single winding. A motor winding section may include a multiple-winding motor. In particular, a motor winding section may include multiple motor windings connected in parallel to form the motor winding section. For example, one motor winding section may include two windings connected in parallel. Different windings may be arranged on different layers and may be connected in parallel to each other with wire ends forming the ends of the motor winding section.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a conventional scheme for driving an electric motor 51-1 having three motor winding sections Lu, Lv, Lw of the configuration of FIG. 2(b) by pulse width modulation control of corresponding switch pairs Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2, each connected to one of two power supply nodes Us, Ug and to only one of three power supply lines L1, L2, L3, each supplying a corresponding one of the motor winding sections Lu, Lv, Lw.

[0038] The electric motor 51-1 includes a motor winding configuration similar to that used in a micro-axial rotary blood pump, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,685A. Three motor winding sections Lu, Lv, and Lw are connected at one end to a star node SN, while the other end of each motor winding section is connected via one of the corresponding power supply lines L1, L2, and L3 to respective intermediate nodes MN1, MN2, and MN3 corresponding to three half-bridges H1, H2, and H3, each of which includes two semiconductor switches, e.g., power MOSFETs shown as switch pairs Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2. Each of the three half-bridges H1, H2, and H3 defines a respective phase supply line driver controlled by the control unit 1. The three half-bridges H1, H2, and H3, i.e., the phase supply line drivers, may be incorporated into or implemented by a single driver DU.

[0039] Each of the half-bridges H1, H2, H3 is controlled by a control unit 1 that is configured to pulse-width modulate each switch pair Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, Sw1 and Sw2 so that the voltage waveform driving a particular motor winding section Lu, Lv, Lw has a 120° phase difference with either of the voltage waveforms driving the other two motor windings.

[0040] Each half-bridge H1, H2, and H3 is connected to a control unit 1, which also provides a supply voltage Us and a reference voltage Ug (e.g., ground voltage). Control of each of the switches in one half-bridge H1, H2, and H3 is shown in FIG. 3 by corresponding arrows from control unit 1 to each switch pair Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2. Switching each half-bridge H1, H2, and H3 switches the respective current supplied to the corresponding motor winding section Lu, Lv, and Lw, resulting in a corresponding change in the magnetic field generated by that particular motor winding section. The motor winding section thereby generates a rotating magnetic field that operates the rotor (not shown) of motor 51-1. The rotor, including its excitation field winding, is correspondingly forced to rotate.

[0041] Corresponding control of switch pairs Su1 and Su2, Sv1 and Sv2, and Sw1 and Sw2 of half-bridges H1, H2, and H3 (phase supply drivers) allows control of the direction and speed of rotation of electric motor 51-1, as well as the torque produced by electric motor 51-1. For example, in the known blood pump 50 shown in FIG. 1, a synchronous motor 51 having three motor windings Lu, Lv, and Lw operates in a star configuration. Thus, the supply line 29 shown in FIG. 1 passing through the catheter tubing 20 includes three phase supply lines L1, L2, and L3, each supplying power to one of the motor windings.

[0042] Figure 4 shows one particular embodiment of the novel configuration proposed herein for the motor windings of the electric motor 51-2 of a percutaneously inserted blood pump such as that shown in Figure 1. Additionally, a simplified schematic circuit diagram of the basic configuration of the drive stage of the electric motor 51-2 is shown in Figure 4.

[0043] As described above and shown in FIG. 1 , the electric motor 51-2 is an integral part of the blood pump 50. Therefore, along with the blood pump 50, the electric motor 51-2 is also inserted completely percutaneously into the patient's body. Also as noted above, the blood pump 50 is based on the catheter 10 through which the blood pump 50 is inserted via a blood vessel and through which a power supply line 29 is routed to power and control the electric motor 51-2. The power supply line 29 includes six separate phase supply lines Lw1, Lv1, and Lu1, Lw2, Lv2, and Lu2 (described in more detail below). Specifically, the motor controller 100, which powers and controls the electric motor 51-2, is located outside the patient's body. In other words, the connections for powering and controlling the operation of the motor 51-2 pass through the catheter 10.

[0044] The electric motor 51-2 includes three motor winding sections Lu, Lv, and Lw. Note that more than three motor winding sections may be used. Each motor winding section Lu, Lv, and Lw is individually connected to a separate phase supply line Lw1, Lv1, and Lu1, Lw2, Lv2, and Lu2 at both ends of each motor winding section LwE1 and LwE2, LvE1 and LvE2, and LuE1 and LuE2. Each of the two phase supply lines of a particular motor winding section Lu, Lv, and Lw is connected to a corresponding half-bridge circuit DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, and DL3. Each half-bridge circuit DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, DL3 includes two corresponding pairs of semiconductor switches SwH1 and SwH2, SvH1 and SvH2, SuH1 and SuH2, SwL1 and SwL2, SvL1 and SvL2, SuL1 and SuL2, as described in relation to Figure 3.

[0045] For example, for the motor winding Lw, a first winding end LwE1 is connected to an intermediate node MNH1 of a half-bridge circuit DH1 via a first phase supply line Lw1, while a second winding end LwE2 is connected to an intermediate node MNL1 of a corresponding second half-bridge circuit DL1 via a second phase supply line Lw2. Each of the two half-bridge circuits DH1, DL1 includes two semiconductor switch pairs SwH1 and SwH2, and SwL1 and SwL2. The two half-bridge circuits DH1, DL1 together define a phase supply line drive for the motor winding Lw. The same applies to the other half-bridges and motor windings.

[0046] 3, the electric motor 51-2 in FIG. 4 is driven and controlled by a motor controller 100 that includes, in principle, two drivers DU1 and DU2. Each of the drivers DU1 and DU2 is connected to a first winding end of each of the motor windings Lu, Lv, and Lw. In a specific implementation example, the drivers DU1 and DU2 may be implemented by an integrated circuit (IC), such as a Texas Instruments DRV8312 three-phase pulse width modulation driver.

[0047] To measure the actual currents Iv, Iu, Iw passing through a particular motor winding Lw, Lv, Lu, the drivers DU1, DU2 are connected to respective current measuring units IM1, IM2, IM3, which are essentially connected in series with the corresponding motor winding Lw, Lv, Lu. For example, the actual current passing through a particular motor winding Lw, Lv, Lu can be determined by a corresponding voltage drop across a current sensing element, such as a shunt resistor. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the current sensing units IM1, IM2, IM3 are implemented by the corresponding shunt resistors Rw, Rv, Ru.

[0048] Corresponding to the above, the motor controller 100 includes a total current measurement unit ITM for measuring the total current passing through all motor windings Lw, Lv, and Lu. The total current measurement unit ITM includes a current detection element and is connected in series with the common node of all phase supply wires that are connected in parallel to the motor windings themselves. The total current detection unit ITM is implemented by a shunt resistor Rtotal, whose voltage drop is measurable and proportional to the total current Itotal.

[0049] Additionally, the control unit 120 includes sensing inputs for receiving measurements of the actual currents Iv, Iu, Iw for each individual motor winding Lw, Lv, Lu and the total current Itotal passing through all motor windings Lw, Lv, Lu. Additionally, the control unit 120 is operatively connected to the power supply 110 which receives the actual voltage provided via the drivers DU1, DU2.

[0050] Furthermore, corresponding voltage measurements are also performed at each intermediate node MNH1, MNH2, and MNH3 in driver DU1 and / or MNL1, MNK2, MNL3 in driver DU2 to measure the induced counter-electromagnetic force CEMF, i.e., voltage, in each motor winding when the respective motor winding is not currently driven, i.e., when one of the switches of the corresponding half-bridge is open.

[0051] Furthermore, output control lines for controlling the half bridges extend from the control unit 120 to the semiconductor switches of the half bridges DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, and DL3.

[0052] It should be noted that, to keep the drawing simple, current sensing and control lines are shown only diagrammatically in Figure 4. For example, an arrow representing the input of a measurement of the actual current Iw in the motor winding Lw to the control unit 120 is drawn from the current measurement unit IM1 with the shunt resistor Rw to the control unit 120. Similarly, an arrow from the control unit 120 to the semiconductor switch SwL2 of the half bridge DL1 in the driver unit DU2 indicates that the operation of the switch SwL2, like the other switches, is under the control of the control unit 120.

[0053] In principle, the control of the direction of rotation, the rotation speed and the generated motor torque of the electric motor 51-2 is similar to that of the configuration shown in Figure 3. However, the configuration proposed here offers some particular advantages.

[0054] First, the control unit 120 is configured to detect a failure of any of the motor windings Lu, Lv, Lw. If a particular motor winding is detected as faulty, the control unit 120 is configured to switch off the corresponding half-bridge DH1, DH2, DH3, DL1, DL2, DL3 connected to the faulty motor winding based on the detected faulty motor winding. Due to the individual control of each motor winding Lu, Lv, Lw, the electric motor 51-2 can further be controlled and operated alternatively by only the remaining motor windings, specifically by controlling the corresponding remaining half-bridge, or by all motor windings, and the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding are adjusted.

[0055] Advantageously, the faulty motor winding can be identified by detecting at least one of the circuit faults described below.

[0056] For example, an open circuit may occur in a conductor of a motor winding or in a corresponding phase supply conductor of a motor winding, which corresponds to a fault in that particular motor winding.

[0057] For example, an insulation failure in one of the motor windings may cause a current leakage between the motor winding and the housing of electric motor 51-2.

[0058] For example, a short circuit between windings of a particular motor winding portion may result in a decrease in inductance of the corresponding motor winding portion, again identifying a faulty motor winding portion.

[0059] In all of the above fault cases, the controller 120 is configured to detect each faulty motor winding based on measuring the actual current flowing through each of the motor windings and / or comparing the actual voltage drop across the motor windings.

[0060] Furthermore, a motor winding failure can be identified, for example, by a short circuit between the conductors of two motor windings. The control unit 120 is also configured to detect two such faulty motor windings, for example, based on a comparison with the actual current flowing through the motor windings. In the case of such a failure, the control unit 120 is configured to identify one of the two faulty motor windings as the faulty motor winding and switch the corresponding half-bridge DH1 and DL1, DH2 and DL2, or DH3 and DL3, and / or adjust the parameters to operate the corresponding half-bridge. Thus, the remaining motor sections can continue to operate the electric motor 51-2, as described above.

[0061] In the case of a blood pump used for subcutaneous insertion into a ventricle of the heart, the fault-tolerant construction and operation of the motor windings of the electric motor driving the blood pump described herein reduces the risk to the patient of a complete failure of the blood pump, as well as the risk associated with removing the blood pump from the patient for replacement with a new one.

[0062] Finally, the present disclosure proposes a novel blood pump for percutaneous insertion and / or intravascular applications, including an electric motor driving the blood pump, the electric motor including at least three motor windings, each motor winding individually connectable to a power source via two separate phase supply wires connected to each motor winding end.

[0063] The present disclosure further proposes a motor controller for driving and controlling an electric motor of a blood pump, wherein the motor controller includes a corresponding phase supply line driver for each motor winding of the electric motor of the blood pump, and the phase supply line driver is connected to the corresponding motor winding via two corresponding phase supply lines.

[0064] Furthermore, the present disclosure proposes a corresponding blood pump system, including a blood pump and a motor controller.

[0065] The present disclosure further proposes a corresponding control method for controlling power supply to motor windings of a blood pump, the method comprising the steps of detecting a failure of one of a plurality of motor windings, and if a faulty motor winding is detected, switching off the phase supply line driver corresponding to the faulty motor winding and controlling the phase supply line drivers of the remaining motor windings to continue operating the electric motor, or alternatively, continuing to operate all motor windings with the drive parameters of the faulty motor winding as adjusted drive parameters.

[0066] Finally, the present disclosure proposes using at least three independent motor windings in an electric motor driving a blood pump for percutaneous insertion and / or intravascular application of the blood pump, the motor windings being individually connected to corresponding power sources via corresponding two separate phase supply wires connected to each motor winding end of one of the at least three motor windings. (Configuration example of the present invention) (Item 1) The blood pump (50) includes an electric motor (51) that drives the blood pump (50), the electric motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw) being arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source via separate phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to respective motor winding section ends (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2). (Item 2) 2. The blood pump (50) according to item 1, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) is a permanent magnet excited synchronous motor. (Item 3) The blood pump (50) according to item 1 or 2, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) includes three motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of which is connected to a corresponding phase supply line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2). (Item 4) A motor controller (100) for driving and controlling an electric motor (51; 51-2) of a blood pump (50) according to any one of items 1 to 3, the motor controller (100) including, for each motor winding section (Lu, Lv, Lw), a corresponding phase supply line driver (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) connected to one of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw) via the corresponding phase supply line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2). (Item 5) Item 5. The motor controller (100) of item 4, wherein each phase supply line driver (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) is implemented by two corresponding half-bridge devices switchably configured to coordinately control the power supplied to corresponding motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 6) Each phase current measurement unit (Ru, Rv, Rw) measures the actual value of the current (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the corresponding motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw); a total current measurement unit (Rtotal) that measures the actual value of the total current (Itotal) flowing through all the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw); 6. The motor controller (100) according to item 4 or 5, further comprising at least one of the measurement units configured to measure a respective induced back electromotive force (CEMF) for the undriven motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 7) 7. The motor controller (100) according to any one of items 4 to 6, comprising a control unit (120) configured to control the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the electric motors (51; 51-2), preferably to drive and control at least one of the rotation speed of the electric motors (51; 51-2), the rotation direction of the electric motors (51; 51-2), and the torque generated by the electric motors (51; 51-2). (Item 8) The control unit (120) is configured to detect a fault in one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), and when the control unit (120) detects a faulty motor winding unit, Switching off the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) corresponding to the defective motor windings and continuing to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2) with the remaining motor windings, or 8. The motor controller (100) of item 7, configured to adjust the parameters of the defective motor winding and then continue to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2) with all motor windings. (Item 9) 8. The motor controller (100) according to item 7, wherein the faulty motor winding section is identified when at least one of the following occurs: an open circuit in a conductor of the motor winding section or in a corresponding phase supply wire (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) of the motor winding section; a leakage current from the motor winding section to a housing of the electric motor (51); and a short circuit between windings of the motor winding section; and wherein the control section (120) is further configured to detect the faulty motor winding section based on at least one of a comparison of the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw) or the actual voltages of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 10) The fault in the motor winding section is identified as a short circuit between two conductors of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), the control unit (120) is configured to detect the two faulty motor windings based on a comparison of the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the two faulty motor windings, 8. The motor controller (100) of claim 7, wherein the control unit (120) is configured to determine one of the two faulty motor winding units as a faulty motor winding unit for which the corresponding phase supply drive unit (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) should be switched off. (Item 11) A blood pump system including the blood pump (50) according to any one of items 1 to 3 and the motor controller (100) according to any one of items 4 to 10. (Item 12) A control method for controlling power supply to motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) of a blood pump (50) according to any one of items 1 to 3, comprising: (i) detecting a fault in one of the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw); (ii) If a defective motor winding is detected, or alternatively, switching off the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) corresponding to the defective motor windings and continuing to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2) by controlling the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) of the remaining motor windings, or The method includes the step of adjusting the drive parameters of the defective motor winding and then continuing to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2) with all motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 13) The step of detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) (a) a break in the conductor of the defective motor winding or the phase supply wire (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) corresponding to the defective motor winding, (b) a current leak from the defective motor winding to the housing of the electric motor (51; 51-2); (c) a short circuit between the windings of the defective motor winding portion; (d) detecting a short circuit between two conductors of the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 14) The step of detecting a fault in one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) (a) the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw); (b) a comparison of the actual voltage drops across the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw); and (c) comparing the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the faulty motor winding. (Item 15) 1. A method for using at least three independent motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) in an electric motor (51; 51-2) for driving a blood pump (50) for percutaneous insertion, wherein the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) are individually connected to a corresponding power supply (110) via two separate corresponding phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to each motor winding end (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2) of one of the at least three motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw). (Item 16) 16. The blood pump (50) according to any one of items 1 to 3, the motor controller (100) according to any one of items 4 to 10, the blood pump system according to item 11, the control method according to any one of items 12 to 14, or the use according to item 15, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) is an integral element of the blood pump (50) configured to be completely inserted percutaneously into the patient's body, and the motor controller (100) that supplies power to and controls the electric motor (51; 51-2) when the blood pump (50) is inserted into the patient is located outside the patient's body, and connections for supplying power to and controlling the operation of the electric motor (51; 51-2) are passed to the blood pump (50) through a catheter (10).

Claims

1. A motor controller (100) for driving and controlling an electric motor (51; 51-2) of a blood pump (50) for percutaneous insertion, comprising: the blood pump (50) includes an electric motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the electric motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw) being arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source (110) via separate phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to respective motor winding section ends (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2); The motor controller (100) phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) respectively corresponding to the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of which can be connected to one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) via the corresponding phase supply line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2); a control unit (120) configured to control the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2); When the defect in the motor winding section is a short circuit between the conductors of two of the motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), the control section (120) detecting two faulty motor windings based on actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the two faulty motor windings; The motor controller (100) is configured to determine one of the two detected faulty motor winding sections as a faulty motor winding section for which the corresponding phase supply line driver (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) should be switched off.

2. 2. The motor controller (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the phase line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) is implemented by two corresponding half-bridge devices switchably configured to coordinately control the power supplied to corresponding motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw).

3. a phase current measuring unit (Ru, Rv, Rw) for measuring the actual value of the current (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the corresponding motor winding unit (Lu, Lv, Lw); a total current measurement unit (Rtotal) for measuring the actual value of the total current (Itotal) flowing through all the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw); and a respective measuring unit configured to measure the back electromotive force (CEMF) induced in each of the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) at the moment when each motor winding is not driven, i.e. when each motor winding is disconnected from the corresponding phase supply line driver (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3).

4. The motor controller (100) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit (120) is configured to drive and control at least one of the rotation speed of the electric motor (51; 51-2), the rotation direction of the electric motor (51), and the torque generated by the electric motor (51; 51-2).

5. 5. The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) is an integral element of the blood pump (50) adapted to be inserted entirely percutaneously into a patient's body, and wherein the motor controller (100) for powering and controlling the electric motor (51; 51-2) is located outside the patient's body when the blood pump (50) is inserted into the patient, with connections for powering and controlling the operation of the electric motor (51; 51-2) passing to the blood pump (50) through a catheter (10).

6. A motor controller (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A blood pump system comprising: a percutaneously inserted blood pump (50), the blood pump (50) including an electric motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the electric motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), the electric motor (51; 51-2) being arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source (110) via separate phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to respective motor winding section ends (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2).

7. 7. The blood pump system according to claim 6, wherein said electric motor (51; 51-2) is a permanent magnet excited synchronous motor.

8. 8. The blood pump system according to claim 6, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) includes three motor winding sections (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of which is connected to a corresponding phase supply line (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2).

9. 9. The blood pump system of claim 6, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) is an integral element of the blood pump (50) adapted to be inserted entirely percutaneously into the patient's body, and wherein the motor controller (100) for powering and controlling the electric motor (51; 51-2) when the blood pump (50) is inserted into the patient is located outside the patient's body, and connections for powering and controlling the operation of the electric motor (51; 51-2) are passed to the blood pump (50) through a catheter (10).

10. A control method for controlling power supply to motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) of a percutaneously inserted blood pump (50), comprising: a motor controller (100) for driving and controlling the electric motor (51; 51-2) of said blood pump (50), the percutaneously inserted blood pump (50) includes an electric motor (51) for driving the blood pump (50), the electric motor (51; 51-2) including at least three motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw), each of the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw) being arranged and configured to be individually connected to a power source (110) via separate phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2) connected to respective motor winding ends (LuE1, LuE2; LvE1, LvE2; LwE1, LwE2); the motor controller (100) includes phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) respectively corresponding to the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw), the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) being connectable to one of the motor winding units (Lu, Lv, Lw) via the corresponding phase supply lines (Lu1, Lu2; Lv1, Lv2; Lw1, Lw2), and a control unit (120) configured to control the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2); The method comprises: (i) detecting a fault in the motor windings, the fault being a short circuit between conductors of two of the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw), wherein detecting the two faulty motor windings is based on the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the two faulty motor windings; (ii) determining one of the two detected faulty motor winding portions as a faulty motor winding portion; (iii) switching off the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) corresponding to the failed motor windings and continuing to operate the electric motor (51; 51-2) by controlling the phase supply line drivers (DH1, DH2, DH3; DL1, DL2, DL3) corresponding to the remaining motor windings.

11. a step of detecting a defect in one of the motor winding portions (Lu, Lv, Lw), (a) the actual currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw), respectively; (b) the actual voltage drop across the motor windings (Lu, Lv, Lw); and 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the control is based on at least one of (c) the actual current (Iu, Iv, Iw) flowing through the failed motor winding.

12. 12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the electric motor (51; 51-2) is an integral element of the blood pump (50) adapted to be inserted entirely percutaneously into the patient's body, and wherein the motor controller (100) for powering and controlling the electric motor (51; 51-2) when the blood pump (50) is inserted into the patient is located outside the patient's body, and connections for powering and controlling the operation of the electric motor (51; 51-2) are passed to the blood pump (50) through a catheter (10).

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