Blood Pump Speed Response for Suction and High Pressure Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable blood pumps face adverse events such as suction and high differential pump pressure, which existing control systems fail to address cohesively, particularly neglecting high-pressure events.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for detecting adverse events in implantable blood pumps, involving a controller that reduces pump speed in response to detected events, monitors for event clearance, and adjusts speed strategically to maintain safe operation, including alarms for persistent issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate speed response strategies are implemented for suction and high pump pressure events, then the response to each individual adverse event can be optimized, but the control system complexity increases and cohesive response strategy is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate speed response strategies for suction and high pump pressure events into a single integrated control system. The controller evaluates multiple adverse events simultaneously and applies a unified speed adjustment algorithm that considers all detected events, thereby reducing control system complexity while maintaining effective response to each individual event type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated control system is designed to handle multiple types of adverse events (suction, high pump pressure, and other events) through a single universal response strategy. The controller can detect and respond to any adverse event using the same cohesive algorithm, making the control system versatile without requiring separate specialized strategies for each event type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If pump speed is reduced to resolve adverse events, then the safety and reliability improve, but the blood flow assistance and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe operationVSAvoidblood flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts pump speed based on real-time detection of adverse events. When an adverse event is detected, the speed is reduced to ensure safe operation and prevent damage. Once the adverse event clears, the system automatically increases speed back to the setpoint to restore optimal blood flow assistance. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain reliability while minimizing the impact on productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system implements periodic monitoring of adverse events and applies speed adjustments only when necessary. The controller continuously detects adverse events and applies speed reduction temporarily, then restores speed when conditions normalize. This periodic action ensures safe operation during adverse events while maintaining high productivity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If pump speed is increased back to set speed after adverse event clearance, then the productivity and blood flow assistance improve, but the risk of recurring adverse events increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow rateVSAvoidadverse event recurrence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system employs continuous feedback monitoring to detect adverse events in real-time. When speed is increased after an adverse event, the controller closely monitors for any signs of recurrence. If another adverse event is detected during the speed increase, the system immediately applies speed reduction again, preventing damage while allowing the system to gradually work toward restoring optimal blood flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3773783B1Multi-input speed response algorithm for a blood pump
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP3773783B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3773783B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3773783B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of responding to an adverse event associated with an implantable blood pump including detecting the adverse event, reducing a pump speed of the blood pump relative to a set pump speed in response to the detected adverse event, and determining whether at least one of a group consisting of the adverse event and a second adverse event is present following the reducing of the pump speed of the blood pump. If the at least one of the group consisting of the adverse event and a second adverse event is not present, the method includes increasing the pump speed to the set pump speed and if the at least one of the group consisting of the adverse event and a second adverse event is present while increasing the pump speed to the set pump speed, the method includes reducing the pump speed to a maximum safe operating speed.