Physiologic Blood Pump Control via Dynamic Flow Amplitude
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood pump systems, particularly ventricular assist devices, face inefficiencies in closed-loop control systems that vary pump speed in response to physiologic or pump parameters, leading to unsatisfactory performance in maintaining optimal blood flow and minimizing suction risk.
Innovation Solution
A physiologic control system for blood pumps that adjusts the desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude based on temporary speed changes, power increases, and flow responses, allowing for manual or automatic adaptation to achieve balanced pumping and energy optimization through various control schemes, including linear and nonlinear decision functions, to ensure enhanced support and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pump speed is increased to maintain optimal blood flow, then blood flow is improved, but suction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude parameter based on real-time responses to temporary speed changes. By making the control parameter adaptive rather than fixed, the system can optimize blood flow while minimizing suction risk through continuous adjustment of the flow amplitude target based on actual pump performance data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the actual response of flow and power to temporary speed changes, then using this information to adjust the desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude. This closed-loop approach allows the system to learn from actual performance and optimize future control decisions, balancing blood flow maintenance with suction risk reduction.
2Productivity
If pump speed is increased to enhance support, then blood flow is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the control parameter from a fixed desired flow rate to a dynamically adjusted desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude that responds to temporary speed change results. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve optimal blood flow enhancement while avoiding excessive power consumption by adjusting the target based on actual pump response characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational data (flow response and power consumption during temporary speed changes) to automatically adjust control parameters. This self-optimizing capability allows the pump system to learn its own performance characteristics and adjust future operations to maximize blood flow support while minimizing power consumption without external intervention.
3Productivity
If desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude is increased, then blood flow support is enhanced, but suction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude is made dynamic rather than static, automatically adjusting based on the pump's actual response to temporary speed changes. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize blood flow support while maintaining suction risk at acceptable levels by continuously refining the target parameter based on real performance data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temporary speed change experiments to adjust the desired peak-to-peak flow amplitude. By monitoring actual flow responses and power consumption patterns, the system can determine optimal target values that maximize blood flow support while keeping suction risk within safe boundaries, creating a self-regulating control mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A physiologic control system and method for controlling a blood pump system such as a VAD system. The pump system includes, for example, a blood pump and a controller for controlling the pump. The system may further include a flow measurement device. A desired peak to peak flow amplitude is determined, and then adjusted in response to various system parameters either manually or automatically by the system.