Intravascular Blood Pump Zero-Flow Control for Heart Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular blood pumps lack a reliable method to assess heart recovery status during assistance, leading to trial-and-error procedures and potential heart overload when reducing support, and regurgitation occurs when the pump is switched off.
Innovation Solution
Implement a zero-flow control mode for intravascular blood pumps, maintaining minimal or zero blood flow to monitor heart recovery by compensating pressure differences, using a cascade control system with an outer and inner loop to adjust drive unit speed and current, allowing monitoring of characteristic heart parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the blood pump is switched off to assess heart recovery, then the heart can be evaluated without pump assistance, but regurgitation occurs through the cannula and accurate assessment becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control system as an intermediary that manages the blood pump operation during heart recovery assessment. The control system receives control signals and adjusts pump speed accordingly, enabling precise control of pump operation during assessment periods without causing regurgitation. This intermediary control mechanism allows the heart to be evaluated while preventing the harmful back-flow effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of pump speed based on control signals. The pump speed is not fixed but can be varied in real-time to match the assessment requirements. This dynamic control allows the pump to operate at optimal speeds during different phases of heart recovery assessment, preventing regurgitation while enabling accurate measurement of heart function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pump speed is manually reduced to assess heart function, then the heart can take over work from the pump, but the process is time-consuming and based on trial-and-error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors heart function parameters and adjusts pump speed accordingly. The control device receives feedback signals about heart performance and automatically modifies pump operation to optimize the assessment process. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual trial-and-error adjustments and significantly reduces assessment time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-adjustment of pump speed based on pre-programmed protocols and real-time heart function data. Rather than requiring continuous manual intervention, the system autonomously manages the pump speed adjustments needed for comprehensive heart recovery assessment, freeing clinicians from time-consuming manual operations.
3Measurement precision
If the pump speed is significantly reduced for on/off approach, then the patient's physiological condition can be observed, but the heart may become overloaded and require several days of setback therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pump speed adjustment that responds in real-time to heart function changes. Rather than using fixed significant reductions in pump speed, the system continuously adapts the pump speed to maintain optimal support levels. This dynamic approach prevents heart overload by providing just enough pump assistance to prevent stress on the recovering heart while still allowing accurate monitoring of ventricular expansion and physiological condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements protective measures in advance by maintaining minimal pump support during assessment periods. This prior cushioning prevents the heart from becoming overloaded before the assessment is complete. The system proactively manages pump speed to avoid creating conditions that would lead to heart stress or setback therapy requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.