Circulatory Support Pump Position Detection via Pulsatility Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circulatory support devices, such as intravascular blood pumps, lack accurate methods for determining correct positioning within a patient's heart, leading to potential misplacement and associated risks.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize motor current and pressure signals, including normalization and filtering techniques, to determine the correct positioning of a circulatory support device within the heart by analyzing pulsatility and pressure values, and outputting alarms for incorrect placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional positioning methods are used for circulatory support devices, then device simplicity is maintained, but positioning accuracy deteriorates leading to potential misplacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (motor current sensing, pressure sensing, and pulsatility analysis) into a unified positioning system. The controller integrates signals from both the motor driver and pressure sensor, processing them through combined algorithms that analyze pulsatility patterns to determine device position with high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects device position, monitors operational status, identifies misplacement conditions, and triggers appropriate responses. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensing modalities are integrated for position detection, then positioning accuracy is improved, but false positives may increase without proper signal processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidfalse positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors pulsatility patterns and compares them against established thresholds and patterns. The controller provides feedback by analyzing the relationship between motor current signals and pressure signals, adjusting its determination of device position based on consistent patterns across multiple cycles, thereby reducing false positives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary signal processing including filtering and normalization of motor current and pressure signals before final position determination. This preliminary action removes noise and artifacts, ensuring that only valid pulsatility patterns are considered for position assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If signal normalization and filtering are applied to motor current signals, then measurement reliability is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Signal normalization and filtering operations are performed as preliminary processing steps during device operation. The controller continuously processes motor current and pressure signals through predefined filter parameters and normalization algorithms, preparing the data for rapid position determination without adding significant delay to the overall system response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Improves the accuracy of positioning detection, reducing false positives and negatives, ensuring proper device placement and minimizing unnecessary medical interventions.

Implementation Method 1

receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor arranged on the circulatory support device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

generating a normalized motor current signal based, at least in part, on the pressure signal, determining a pulsatility of the normalized motor current signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal processing:

Data Source

PatentUS12544557B2Position detection for a circulatory support device

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 ABIOMED INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for determining whether a circulatory support device is correctly positioned in a heart of a patient are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor arranged on the circulatory support device, generating a normalized motor current signal based, at least in part, on the pressure signal, determining a pulsatility of the normalized motor current signal, determining whether the circulatory support device is correctly positioned in the heart of the patient based, at least in part, on the pulsatility of the normalized motor current signal, and outputting an alarm when it is determined that the circulatory support device is not correctly positioned in the heart of the patient.