Intravascular Blood Pump Zero-Flow Control for Heart Recovery Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular blood pumps lack a reliable method to assess heart recovery status, leading to trial-and-error procedures and potential heart overload during explantation, with regurgitation through cardiac valves when assistance is reduced.
Innovation Solution
Implement a zero-flow control mode in intravascular blood pumps, maintaining minimal or zero blood flow to monitor heart recovery by compensating pressure differences, using a control device with cascade control loops to adjust drive unit speed and current, allowing heart function assessment without assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blood pump assistance is reduced to assess heart recovery, then the heart can take over work from the blood pump, but regurgitation through the cannula occurs and heart overload may result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic zero-flow control intervals where the blood pump temporarily stops blood flow at predetermined times. During these intervals, the cannula closes to prevent regurgitation, and heart function parameters are monitored. This periodic action allows safe assessment of heart recovery without continuous regurgitation risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary between the blood pump and the heart assessment process. This control device manages the zero-flow intervals, monitors heart function parameters, and prevents regurgitation by coordinating the cannula closure with pump operation, thereby safely enabling heart recovery evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If the blood pump is switched off to monitor unassisted heart function, then heart recovery status can be assessed, but flow regurgitation through the cannula makes assessment impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic zero-flow control intervals where the pump temporarily stops at predetermined times. During these intervals, heart function parameters are monitored without the interference of pump-assisted flow or regurgitation, enabling precise measurement of unassisted heart function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that coordinates the pump operation with monitoring requirements. It initiates zero-flow intervals, ensures cannula closure to prevent regurgitation, and manages the monitoring process, thereby enabling reliable unassisted heart function assessment.
3Ease of operation
If manual pump speed reduction is performed based on professional experience, then the explantation process can be guided, but trial-and-error procedures increase time and risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback control by continuously monitoring heart function parameters during zero-flow intervals and using this information to guide pump speed reduction decisions. This feedback mechanism eliminates trial-and-error procedures by providing objective real-time data on heart recovery status.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device performs automated assessment of heart recovery status by analyzing monitored parameters during zero-flow intervals. This self-service capability reduces reliance on manual professional judgment and trial-and-error procedures, thereby reducing time and risk in the explantation process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a control device (100) for controlling a blood flow Qpump(t) of an intravascular blood pump (50) for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump (50) comprising a pump unit (52) with a drive unit (51) for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet (54) towards a blood flow outlet (56), wherein the control device (100) is configured to operate the blood pump (50) in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal Qpumpset(t) is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller (401) and a second controller (402), wherein the first controller (401) is configured to control the blood flow Qpump(t) by adjusting a speed command signal npump-set(t) for the drive unit (51), and the second controller (402) is configured to control a drive speed npump(t) of the drive unit (51). Further, the invention concerns a corresponding method for controlling a blood flow Qpump(t) of an intravascular blood pump (50), as well as a control device (100) configured to carry out the method. Finally, the invention concerns a system comprising an intravascular blood pump (50) for assistance of a heart and the control device (100) controlling the blood pump (50).