Sensorless Blood Pump Preload Tracking via Flow Waveform Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ventricular assist devices (VADs) lack an efficient preload tracking method to derive preload information or determine mitral valve regurgitation without using sensors directly.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method utilizes the trough to peak rise phase of the estimated flow waveform from a sensorless implantable blood pump to predict mitral valve status, allowing for non-invasive extraction of preload information and detection of mitral valve regurgitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current VAD devices operate at predetermined set speed, then the physiologically suitable output is maintained, but the devices lack efficient preload tracking method to derive preload information or determine mitral valve regurgitation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreload tracking accuracyVSAvoidsensor requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct mechanical sensing (pressure sensors, flow sensors) with an electrical measurement system. The control circuit measures current drawn by the pump motor and processes this electrical signal to derive preload information and detect mitral valve events, eliminating the need for invasive mechanical sensors while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pump current as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure preload and mitral valve status. Instead of directly measuring pressure or flow, the system measures current (an easily obtainable electrical parameter) and uses signal processing to extract physiological information, serving as a non-invasive mediator between the pump and the physiological system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If VAD devices use direct sensors to determine mitral valve regurgitation, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemitral valve regurgitation detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct mechanical sensing (pressure sensors, flow sensors) with an electrical measurement system. The control circuit measures current drawn by the pump motor and processes this electrical signal to derive preload information and detect mitral valve events, eliminating the need for invasive mechanical sensors while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an electrical copy of the physiological signal by measuring pump current, which reflects the mechanical workload and pressure conditions in the ventricle. This electrical proxy signal is then processed to reconstruct information about mitral valve function and preload, providing a non-invasive copy of the physiological state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250195872A1Method to extract and quantify the cardiac end diastolic point/mitral valve closing point from the HVAD estimated flow waveform
Publication Date: 2025.06.19 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • US20250195872A1 patent drawing
  • US20250195872A1 patent drawing
  • US20250195872A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A control circuit for a sensorless implantable blood pump configured to determine mitral valve regurgitation includes processing circuitry configured to generate an estimated blood flow waveform from the sensorless implanted blood pump and generate an alert if between an end period of diastole and a beginning period of systole a measured amplitude of the estimated blood flow waveform does not include an inflection point.